No-show mayor causes eShowe shutdown threat
Mayor's absence fuels increased anger in community
‘Where is Mayor Zulu?”
That is what an ever-increasingly impatient and angry King DinuZulu community is asking.
The uMlalazi mayor was due to address the community on Wednesday at 10am, but failed to arrive as the community awaited for his arrival at the King DinuZulu Stadium.
In response, the community has vowed to force a complete shutdown of the eShowe central business district today (Thursday) and are determined to have the mayor explain to them what happened to the money for the rehabilitation of the 735 metres of road leading into the suburb.
The MEC of Safety, Security and Transport, Mxolisi Kaunda, arrived at the stadium at around 1pm.
His arrival did not go down well as the community insisted they wanted to be addressed by the mayor.
By 2pm the stadium erupted in chaos as the angry crowd demanded that the Public Order Police present leave the stadium.
The police were told they could not leave as they needed to protect the VIPs (MEC and his entourage).
The crowd split up, with approximately half leaving the stadium and running wild outside.
By 2.30pm the crowd was calmed down and about 500 people listened to what the MEC had to say and dispersed by 4pm.
Details of the outcome has not yet been released.
Police warned residents to be vigilant as there also appears to be a criminal element taking advantage of the situation.
A week of struggle
Zulu has cited safety concerns as the reason for his non-attendance at meetings, despite his undertakings to meet with the community.
Protests started in earnest on Monday following various failed meetings between the uMlalazi Business Development Forum (UBDF) and the uMalalzi Municipality.
Burning tyres, felled trees and concrete blocks strewn across access roads into eShowe and at major intersections greeted commuters.
A number of tyres were set alight in eShowe’s main road.
By lunchtime many businesses were closed after being either intimidated or receiving telephone calls instructing them to close, or else they would be in trouble.
Tuesday was much the same, but no road blocks were set up as the community awaited a 4pm meeting with the mayor.
He again did not show up and a small crowd ran riot in the town in the early evening, trashing the streets and breaking the windows of the ANC office.
Businesses hard hit
The protests have adversely affected businesses in eShowe, as many customers preferred to stay away rather than run the gauntlet into town.
Deliveries of goods were also affected with delivery trucks being held back owing to the uncertainty and volatile situation.
Schools have managed to stay open in eShowe, except for the Holy Childhood School, which was closed on Tuesday.
Schools in King DinuZulu have been closed for all three days.
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