Service delivery protests by residents of Maluti near the border post between South Africa and Lesotho have affected operations and left a number of officials, including a mother and her eight-month-old baby, stranded.
Officials at the Qacha’s Nek border post working for the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Home Affairs and police have been unable to do their work.
This has seen a number of business people and travellers unable to cross the border from either side.
SARS said there had been “some impact” on their employees at the border post, while police said they used “minimum force” as residents pelted their vehicles with stones.
SARS spokeswoman Marika Muller said: “There was some impact on SARS staff coming on and off duty.
“However, the police in the area are assisting in getting the staff to work safely.”
She referred further queries to the Department of Home Affairs, saying that it “coordinates the Border Management Agency of all the government departments that work at the borders”.
Attempts to get hold of Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete had been unsuccessful by print deadline.
A SARS employee working at the border post yesterday phoned the Daily Dispatch saying she and her colleagues were “stranded”.
She added that a Home Affairs official with them had an eight-month-old baby.
Mount Fletcher police spokesman Lieutenant Raphael Motloung said residents started the protest on Monday morning.
“These protesters are complaining of bad roads and other services.
“They started digging trenches blocking roads that lead to Lesotho and all the other roads connecting the main road to Lesotho,” he said.
“No Lesotho nationals are allowed to drive to that country and this also impacts badly on businesses.”
Residents, mostly from villages of Ncholu and Mafube, complained of empty promises from Matatiele Local Municipality.
A local chief, Thembani Tyhali said: “People were promised that millions of rands were available to fix the roads but when they started questioning they found that these were just empty promises.
“Some parts of the roads are still blocked and badly damaged. Protesters have also the water project ,” said Tyhali.
Matatiele local municipality manager Dr Tshepang Makin said the road belonged to the provincial department of public works.
“We are aware of what these residents are complaining about. What is worse now is they broke the water pipes that are taking water from the local dam to the town of Maluti.
“We are currently sending our machinery to fix the broken roads,” said Makin.
Public works department spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said: “The department will continue to look for additional funding to implement the surfacing of the Qacha’s Nek and other roads as this has been prioritised.”
Late yesterday Motloung said 10 people were arrested after they burnt down a construction office in the area. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Protesters block roads to Lesotho
Officials at the Qacha’s Nek border post working for the South African Revenue Services (SARS), Home Affairs and police have been unable to do their work.
This has seen a number of business people and travellers unable to cross the border from either side.
SARS said there had been “some impact” on their employees at the border post, while police said they used “minimum force” as residents pelted their vehicles with stones.
SARS spokeswoman Marika Muller said: “There was some impact on SARS staff coming on and off duty.
“However, the police in the area are assisting in getting the staff to work safely.”
She referred further queries to the Department of Home Affairs, saying that it “coordinates the Border Management Agency of all the government departments that work at the borders”.
Attempts to get hold of Home Affairs spokesman Mayihlome Tshwete had been unsuccessful by print deadline.
A SARS employee working at the border post yesterday phoned the Daily Dispatch saying she and her colleagues were “stranded”.
She added that a Home Affairs official with them had an eight-month-old baby.
Mount Fletcher police spokesman Lieutenant Raphael Motloung said residents started the protest on Monday morning.
“These protesters are complaining of bad roads and other services.
“They started digging trenches blocking roads that lead to Lesotho and all the other roads connecting the main road to Lesotho,” he said.
“No Lesotho nationals are allowed to drive to that country and this also impacts badly on businesses.”
Residents, mostly from villages of Ncholu and Mafube, complained of empty promises from Matatiele Local Municipality.
A local chief, Thembani Tyhali said: “People were promised that millions of rands were available to fix the roads but when they started questioning they found that these were just empty promises.
“Some parts of the roads are still blocked and badly damaged. Protesters have also the water project ,” said Tyhali.
Matatiele local municipality manager Dr Tshepang Makin said the road belonged to the provincial department of public works.
“We are aware of what these residents are complaining about. What is worse now is they broke the water pipes that are taking water from the local dam to the town of Maluti.
“We are currently sending our machinery to fix the broken roads,” said Makin.
Public works department spokesman Mphumzi Zuzile said: “The department will continue to look for additional funding to implement the surfacing of the Qacha’s Nek and other roads as this has been prioritised.”
Late yesterday Motloung said 10 people were arrested after they burnt down a construction office in the area. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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