LISTEN: Irate Umlalazi residents protest against ongoing roadworks
A community leader in the uMlalazi Local Municipality says the slow progress in construction and a lack of transparency from municipal officials has forced the community to mobilise.
This morning there was protest action in eShowe - with irate locals particularly unhappy with what they say is the never-ending construction of the multi-million rand 1.2 kilometre King Dinuzulu Bus Route.
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Chairperson of the uMlalazi Business Development Forum, Phelelani Zulu, says the roadworks were meant to have been completed in December - but that there's been work done on only 5% of the route.
He says previously non-performing contractors had been given the boot, but for some reason the current contractor is still on the project.
Zulu says it's for this reason that the community has mobilised on this issue along with others such as housing and waste removal.
But mayor Thulani Zulu says while they've been open about the processes followed, it's clear that some residents have been left out of the loop.
"The committee did not know exactly what processes were used, so what we have been told, and we are no preparing to go to them and explain to them, after we've sat with their leaders," he said.