Watch: N2 freeway protests latest, residents demand water, jobs

Service delivery protestors continued with their protests on the N2 freeway on Wednesday near Harmony Hill Animal Hotel according to posts that went viral on social media groups.

The protestors who again took to the N2 freeway in early morning protests have demanded water, jobs and that some councillors be removed.

This video shows the old St Faiths road blocked with trees between Umtentweni and St Faiths:

Protest action on Wednesday continued near Sea Park where protestors walked along the N2 to the R102. Armed response security officers and the police were called out to the scene of the protest. Protest action was also reported between Umzumbe and South Port. 

KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Mrs Nonhlanhla Khoza announced that she and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC,  Sipho Hlomuka and leadership of Ugu District Municipality would be meeting with the service delivery protesters in Ugu District Municipality. 

According to the department of social development the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality had been faced by sporadic protests in KwaMadlala area and Ezinqoleni where protesters were demanding water, jobs and the removal of councillors from their positions.

“Community members in Ezinqoleni have barricaded the N2, affecting free flow of traffic between Durban, Kokstad and Umthatha (in the Eastern Cape),” the department said.

This road is one of the busiest in the province as it links KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.  This protest, which started on Tuesday, has disturbed a lot of business operations. 

MEC Nkonyeni on Tuesday called on police to act swiftly and arrest suspects. By midday police had arrested two suspects for public violence and one suspect for arson in connection with the burning of a Municipal building and state vehicle.

”Public Order Police together with the South African Police Service’s Tactical Response Team have been deployed to the area and the situation is receiving urgent attention. We have directed police to act swiftly and so far, three people have been arrested for public violence and arson,” she said.

“The arrested suspects must face the full might of the law because we want to ensure that protesters who cause anarchy and vandalise state property deal with the consequences of their criminal actions.”