Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The N2 in Plettenberg Bay is set to reopen today, Friday 18 June, with clean-up operations having started.

The national road in Plett has been closed since Monday due to riots over unhappiness with delays in the implementation of the Qolweni housing development.

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Protesters closed the road by burning tyres and other debris, as well as stone throwing, forcing motorists to travel an alternative route via the Airport Road.

The community, through their leaders, demanded that the project be handed over to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements.

MEC for the department Tertuis Simmers visited the community this morning and announced that the Bitou Council had agreed to hand over the project to his department.

Protesters then added a demand, asking for the release of community members who had been arrested for their alleged part in the rioting.

The Bitou Municipality indicated that the Human Rights Commission of South Africa would deal with this issue.

The Bitou municipal communications team announced that an agreement was reached to reopen the road and clean-up operations had in the meantime started. It is expected that the road will be open just after 14:00.

Public order police and the Red Ants stabilisation unit remain on the scene.

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