Protesting residents blocked the M35 road with burning tyres.
FED-UP residents said they were tired of empty promises and they blocked roads with stones and burning tyres yesterday.
Residents of Folweni, Nsimbini, Mkhazini and Mangamazini were demanding that a tar road be built in their area.
They said they had waited 12 years for the tar road to be built, yet nothing had happened.
Resident Nkosinathi Gumede (38) said: “Transport department officials came to the area and promised our gravel road would be replaced with tar in 2005.
“We’ve been waiting for a long time, and that’s why we decided
to protest.
to protest.
“Every time we try to get answers, no one is willing to help.”
Another resident, Sbani Ntaka (30), said police reacted rather violently to the protesters.
“They shot at us with rubber bullets and fired tear gas.”
Matric pupil Nelisiwe Magcaba (19) said the protest affected him badly.
“I arrived late at school for my history exam because it was difficult to get transport, so I had to walk.”
KZN education spokesman Kwazi Mthethwa said: “We are glad the pupils managed to get to school and wrote their exams, although they were late.”
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Thulani Zwane said the M35 road in Mangamazini was blocked with burning tyres and rubble.
“No incidents were reported and police attended to the scene to stabilise the situation.”
Transport spokesman Nathi Sukazi said residents needed to understand that KZN is a big province with many roads that needed to be attended to.
“This road will be put on the 2019/20 budget,” he said.
