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GAZETTE Umvoti | Kranskop | New Hanover | Msinga Magisterial Districts 10 000 copies weekly| Est. 1903
FREE WEDNESDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2019 Protesters block the road with rubble and tree branches. PHOTO: ANDILE SITHOLE
PROTESTERS
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‘Be silent and listen’ THE Little Oaks and all the pupils up to Grade 12 had the opportunity last Thursday to have their vision and hearing screened, as undiagnosed vision and hearing problems can profoundly influence a child’s learning. Take a moment to be silent and to listen to the sounds around you — the ability to hear is one of the most amazing things about being human, and it’s something worth protecting. The Kind2Hearing team from Hillcrest gave all pupils the opportunity to test their hearing ability. They were joined by Greytown’s MoniqueSnyman.
close down Greytown
ANDILE SITHOLE MORE than 200 protesters blocked all exit roads in Greytown and vowed to bring the town to a standstill if their demands were not met on Monday. The protesters burnt tyres and barricaded roads as they demanded that uMvoti Mayor Thamsanqa Ngubane step down. The protest started on Sunday night with residents from Ward 7 protesting in the streets, accusing the leadership of the municipality of ignoring their demands. During the march, some shops closed while the protesters chanted slogans and A building and cars were torched during the protest action. burned tyres. Despite cars being torched during the march, protestors denied being employment opportunities at the FET Con- Bell Street with burning tyres and rubble. responsible for the burnt vehicles. struction should exclusively be for the They allegedly set a vehicle on fire. A case The protest affected pupils, workers, hos- Ward 7 community since the location of the of public violence was opened at the pital patients, and local businesses as the college is in Ward 7. Greytown police station for investigation. protesters took to the streets to demand that “The municipal administration and politi- Police are still in the area, monitoring the KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tour- cal leadership have gone to great lengths situation.” ism and Environmental Affairs Sihle in at least four engagements; held on Protest action reportedly continued on Zikalala come to address them. January24, January 25, January 30 and Tuesday morning. Protesters were waiting A protester leading the march who did not January 31; with the committee delegation for the arrival MEC Zikalala to address want to be named said the community is fu- [to explain] that the opportunities at the col- them. rious because the councillor for Ward 7 re- lege are for all 14 wards in the municipal No further updates were available at the signed from his position. Additionally, the jurisdiction, including Ward 7.” time of going to press on Wednesday. community called for all labour for the conPhungula said the committee delegation struction of a new tertiary education facility has categorically rejected these explanabe given to Ward 7 residents. tions and have gone as far as to employ vio“There’s a construction project of the FET lent means to prevent the college from being College in Ward 7. We see outsiders getting constructed if all opportunities are not exjobs which are meant for the people of clusively reserved for Ward 7 residents. Ward 7. We are tired of the corrupt officials “The protesters have taken it upon themfrom uMvoti Municipality. We want Sihle selves to block the main roads into the townZikalalato address us. We are not going to ship and, by so doing, deprive residents of move away until Zikalala comes to us,” he essential services such as the collection of said. refuse as municipal vehicles cannot enter The construction of the FET college has or leave the township. This poses a health come to a standstill for the past 14 days as hazard for residents and a danger for chilresidents allegedly stopped construction, dren who may be prone to playing with the accusing people from outside wards of tak- rubbish. The reading of meters is also a coning their jobs. cern which will later affect residents,” Spokesperson for uMvoti Municipality Phungula said, adding that the blocking of Phindile Phungula said the idea of building the roads posed a grave threat to patients an institution of higher learning was going in the nearby hospital as ambulances could to bring a positive change in the lives of not enter or leave the area. many in the community. Phungula added: “We therefore ask resi“It would seem that a handful of residents, dents to exercise patience and refrain from believed to be from Enhlalakahle, are partaking in these illegal blockades. We staunchly against the efforts of our govern- have officially approached the local SAPS ment and our municipality. The group, who and trust that a resolution will be reached refers to itself as the Enhlalakahle Commu- speedily.” nity Committee, cited their main concern as Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile that of employment. The group alleges that Gwala said: “A group of people blockaded Police talk to the leaders of the protest.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Kye Stiemer (left, audiologist) and Zoe Heih spotted during the hearing tests at Hermannsburg.
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