Civil unrest moves to town
Service delivery protest spreads to Durban Deep and disrupts peak traffic.
Following in the wake of the Tshepisong and Bekkersdal riots, unhappy residents of Durban Deep have added their voices to the choir of civil disobedience.
Allegedly having been without water and prepaid electricity for two weeks, the protestors took to Albertina Sisulu Road in the early morning hours of 31 October.
Entrances to Durban Deep were barricaded with burning tyres that kept on appearing magically, as well as tree trunks. At first JMPD and the SAPS just observed and diverted traffic away from the chaos but when the protestors started intimidating residents carrying water into the community, a confrontation started between law enforcement and the crowd.
Only mothers with babies were let in and out while vehicles and those attempting to go to work were stopped. Teachers from Durban Deep Primary School also were prevented from entering the community.
Protestors shouted anti-Zuma and anti-government slogans and burned ANC posters.
At approximately 8am the ANC Councillor Sabelo Xane arrived at the scene where at that stage SAPS members in riot gear had to control the crowd. Xane could not address the community as they got hostile and he had to take shelter in a police Nyala.
Motorists are advised to avoid Albertina Sisulu Road in the areas surrounding Durban Deep.
