UPDATE: Jozini community riots over water
TAKE NOTE: Motorists are urged to be drive carefully as protests continue on Jozini road.
MACHIBINI communities continued their anti-district municipality protests, demanding they receive the water promised to them by Mayor Vilane, as they blocked the road between Mkhuze and Ubombo with burning tyres, branches and rocks this week.
Action started as early as 3am when motorists were prevented from using the roads.
‘My cousin is a taxi owner and driver and, when he tried to get from Mkhuze to Jozini to pick up his passengers, the protesters threw rocks at his vehicle, breaking all the windows,’ said a concerned Mkhuze resident.
A Ubombo resident was caught up in the blockade when he was returning home from Mkhuze.
Although he witnessed no violence, he said a local resident attempted to drive through the blockade and protesters threw rocks at his vehicle.
‘This should have happened a long time ago,’ he said of the protests for water. ‘But they are going about it the wrong way,’ he said.
At the time, he said police were awaiting back-up and he had been stuck in the kilometres-long traffic jam for over two hours.
By 2.30pm most of the protesters had dispersed but those who remained were reportedly adding more barriers to the blockade.
Reports of a police officer being assaulted by protesters could not be confirmed.
Buses and ambulances were also prevented from travelling to Bethesda Hospital.
KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mike Mabuyakhulu, who is also the Champion MEC for uMkhanyakude, addressed the rioting communities on Tuesday and will hold a meeting with them on Monday.
MECs for COGTA and Agriculture and Rural Development are also expected to join the meeting.
Mabuyakhulu has drafted a water distribution schedule which uMkhanyakude District Municipality is in the process of implementing.
‘While we do have tankers to distribute water, they are there to serve the entire district and there are many other communities in the same situation as Machibini,’ said uMkhanyakude District Municipal Spokesperson Mdu Dlamini.
‘For example, if the tanker attends that area today, the next time it can go there will be next week Tuesday or Wednesday. But we are making plans to distribute water to Machibini immediately.’
The municipality hopes the MECs can reach an agreement with the communities on Monday.
Late reports said water tankers had arrived at Jozini at around 2pm.
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