Impact of Plett protests 'immense'

Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Not only did the recent wave of violent riots in Plettenberg Bay disrupt traffic in and out of town but it had a major impact on the local economy and locals' wallets.

The protests forced some businesses to close their doors or operate on skeleton staff, left several establishments without electricity for days and in some cases led to looting. Children were also unable to attend school and local employees were unable to make it to their workplaces amid threats and blocked access roads.

Last week, two sets of protests took place in Bitou. One was staged by Qolweni residents over lingering housing concerns in the area, and another by Kwanokuthula residents over electricity issues.

Qolweni starts the action
On Tuesday night, several Qolweni residents gathered along the N2 near the footbridge where they burnt tyres and other objects while pelting passing vehicles with stones. The action is believed to have been over unhappiness around Bitou Municipality's plan of action in addressing housing problems.

The protests in Plettenberg Bay last week forced some businesses to close their doors or operate on skeleton staff, left several establishments without electricity for days and in some cases led to looting.

This after Plettenberg Bay was plagued by riots, mostly over housing, last year by various communities – some of which brought the town to a near standstill when residents gathered on the N2 blocking the road for traffic.

The protests temporarily came to an end at the time, after mayor Peter Lobese committed to various steps to attend to residents' concerns.

Housing meeting sparks more protests
A plan has since been put in place to address the housing shortage, but after a housing committee meeting on Tuesday, residents reverted to protest action once again to show their dismay with the process so far, and the crowds only dispersed after authorities intervened.

The action sporadically continued during most parts of Wednesday, however. This not only led to traffic in and out of Plett being diverted via Airport Road, but also to the damage of property and looting of several businesses. Municipal spokesperson Manfred van Rooyen confirmed that a mini substation was set ablaze and destroyed. This also left several businesses in the industrial area without electricity until this week when the municipality replaced the infrastructure at a cost of R1-million.

Kwanokuthula joins the fray
On Wednesday, Kwanokuthula residents embarked on a march from Kwanokuthula to the municipal offices to voice their concerns over electricity issues and indicated, among other things, that they wanted their electricity directly from Eskom as the municipality used the prepaid system to recover rates and taxes. This has led to residents receiving less electricity units than they pay for.

While the protests started off peacefully, residents blocked access roads to Kwanokuthula leaving learners and local workers unable to go to school or their place of employment.

There were also several reports of protestors threatening those who did not want to participate. Later on Wednesday, residents also started burning tyres and other objects which required the intervention of police. Several businesses, including a Kwanokuthula liquor store, were looted.

'R10m in losses'
Local businessman Duncan Brown of the Beacon Island Kwikspar said he could only keep his doors open thanks to six people who made it to work, including managers. Some of the managers jumped in and operated tills and worked more than 16 hours on Wednesday.

"The town was once again held hostage by a few. The reason this happens over and over again is that authorities are not dealing with the issues. Every time it is just empty promises and then we sit with the same situation again," Brown said.

Other shops, including Checkers, could however not keep the doors open. "If my calculations are anything to go by, the day's losses in Plett could be around R10-million."

'Damage to tourism immense'
Owner of local restaurant Frendz, Freund Oberholzer, said they experienced the losses of the riots first hand. "We could not even make enough to cover the day's costs," he said, adding that only he, his wife Suzette and a barista from Kranshoek managed to get to work. "Over and above the losses businesses suffered, the damage this does to tourism, which is our town's lifeblood, is immense. We had tourists come in having had their vehicle stoned. I can't see how they will ever be back in Plett, let alone South Africa. This exacerbates the problem. If tourism suffers, unemployment rises."

On Monday, Lobese tabled an item at a special council meeting relating to the petition that was handed to him on Wednesday. It was resolved, among others, that 50 free electricity units would be reintroduced in all "subeconomic areas" and electricity cutoffs be implemented to all those not registered as indigents.

'R40m loss for municipality'
"Residents should be advised that the cost of the measures taken by council represents a R40-million loss in revenue which will affect the budget and various projects and programmes that have to be either readjusted downwards or postponed to later budget periods. These measures may in the medium to long term also have lasting negative implications for the financial sustainability of the council," Van Rooyen said.

He added that council also reflected on the demand by protestors to become direct Eskom consumers. "Bitou Municipality, as a National Engergy Regulator of SA (Nersa) licensed distributor of electricity, does not have the authority to consider this demand and advise the communities to apply to Nersa directly for the migration to Eskom."

Van Rooyen said a formal response on the petition would be given to the leadership of the concerned residents shortly.

On Wednesday, Kwanokuthula residents embarked on a march from Kwanokuthula to the municipal offices to voice their concerns over electricity issues. Photo: Supplied