Update Video

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS & VIDEO - The Kwanokuthula march over electricity supply issues have come to an end after protestors handed over a memorandum with the grievances to Bitou mayor Peter Lobese at the municipal offices in Plettenberg Bay.

A large crowd marched from Kwanokuthula to the municipal officers to voice their concerns over issues with electricity. Residents indicated that they, among other things, wanted their electricity directly from Eskom as the muncipality used the prepaid system to recover rates and taxes. This has lead to residents receiving less electricity units than they pay for.

Motorists are still being urged to avoid the N2 between Shell Ultra City and Airport Road as protestors return home.

Municipal spokesman said while the march had been a peaceful one, that police and other authorities had been keeping a close eye on the situation. This had taken place in the wake of protest action on Tuesday night.

Several Qolweni residents staged a protest on Tuesday evening to voice their dismay around Bitou Municipality’s plan of action in address housing problems in the area.

Watch a video below.

Plettenberg Bay has been plagued by riots, mostly over housing, last year by various communities - some of which brought the coastal holiday town to a near standstill when residents gathered on the N2 blocking the road for traffic.

The protests temporarily came to an end after mayor Peter Lobese addressed communities and committed to various steps to attend to their concerns. One of these was to invite the relevant national and provincial departments to Plett to address their issues.

A plan has since been put in place to address the housing shortage, but after a housing committee meeting on Tuesday residents voiced their unhappiness with the process so far. This spilled over into another wave of protesting on Tuesday evening, which included the burning of tyres and stoning of passing vehicles on the N2 near the Plett footbridge.

The crowds were however dispersed after authorities intervened.

There are still reports of unhappy residents pelting passing vehicles with rocks.

More in Thursday's Knysna-Plett Herald and online.