King tells subjects to stop destroying infrastructure

Amampondo King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau has appealed to communities not to burn schools, damage roads and other infrastructure which are of benefit to them. 

He said his heart bled to see infrastructure built with taxpayers’ money being destroyed.

“It is our right to embark on strike or protest, but we need not infringe other people’s rights by doing so,” he said yesterday.

“Torching schools and other government buildings and destroying road infrastructure, all that is servicing our areas, has no logic. It is absolutely wrong.”

The R63 road to Mbizana was damaged when residents dug into it and burnt tyres in service delivery protests in recent months.

Some electricity poles were cut down and a school in Port St Johns was burnt down, while another in Mthatha was also torched, causing damage estimated at more than R1-million on both schools.

“These properties that were damaged are servicing our communities and we are inconveniencing those that are using it and delaying development.”

He called upon traditional leaders not only in the Mpondoland, but in the entire country, to discourage people from burning buildings and destroying roads.

Sigcau also said information should also flow properly on when the government intended to develop the underdeveloped areas.

“If there is no flow of information and people are not informed, there will always be problems. The government must not wait until there is a protest before they act.”