S.Africa: Blame for violent protests near Hibberdene must be laid at the door of the incompetent ANC
(008274.77-E001840.93NAVRLOSUC20V)
The FF Plus strongly condemns the violent protest actions by disgruntled residents of Hibberdene, Pumula and Umzumbe who are blocking the N2 and R103 with burning tyres and rocks due to the lack of water in the Umzumbe region.
The blame for these protest actions can only be laid at the door of the incompetent ANC-controlled Ugu District Municipality and the provincial government of KwaZulu Natal.
The Ugu District Municipality, which serves the towns of Harding, Hibberdene, Margate, Pennington, Port Edward, Port Shepstone, Scottburgh/Umzinto North and Southbroom, has been experiencing problems with water supply for quite some time and over the past five years, things have only gotten worse.
In March, the KwaZulu Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Sipho Hlomuka, promised the desperate residents of the KwaZulu Natal South Coast both short- and long-term interventions to resolve the ongoing water crisis. Thus far, nothing has come of it.
Tourism is one of the most prominent industries when it comes to generating revenue on the South Coast, but due to the lack of general service delivery and the water crisis in particular, tourists are deterred from visiting the area.
The FF Plus acknowledges residents’ right to express their dissatisfaction with the lack of service delivery, but it must happen within the constraints of the law – residents must not resort to violence, which endangers the safety of law-abiding citizens.
The only long-term solution for the problems experienced by the people residing on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal is to make sure that they are correctly registered as voters so as to get rid of the incompetent ANC during the upcoming local government elections.
The time is here to stand up and stand with the FF Plus to send a strong message to the ANC: Poor service delivery and the decline of municipalities will not be tolerated.