Violent protest action disrupts KZN Midlands farming

Lloyd Phillips
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The effects of an ongoing violent protest action centred in Mooi River’s Bruntville township in KwaZulu-Natal have spread to the local farming community.

Violent protest action disrupts KZN Midlands farming
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Farm and other workers living in Bruntville have reportedly been barred from leaving the township to get to their jobs.

Social media reports doing the rounds in the Mooi River area have claimed that protesters want the town’s current mayor, Janet Mchunu, to resign. Protesters were also angry at not having been employed in the construction of the newly completed Spring Grove Dam situated outside of the nearby village of Rosetta, according to some of the reports,

In an email to members of the Mooi-Mpofana Agricultural Association (MMAA) and to the Kamberg Valley Association from MMAA, manager Tony le Roux urged local farmers to be patient while the situation was addressed.

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“We have engaged the municipal manager [Max Moyo] and the mayor yesterday [26 August] to ascertain the exact situation,” said Le Roux’s email. “We have also engaged Kwanalu who are working with the ministry of agriculture and the ministry of rural safety. Meetings are taking place as we speak and it’s too soon to predict the outcomes.”

The protest began on Friday, 22 August, and unconfirmed social media reports have alleged that more than one Bruntville resident has been killed by protesters or died as a result of the blockade.

At various times police have had their hands full trying to remove rocks and burning tyres from the nearby N3 highway and its R103 alternative route. Farmer’s Weekly has also witnessed police repeatedly firing teargas canisters at groups of protesters.

A number of Twitter users shared photos and updates of the strike.

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