THE Greater Kokstad Municipality is battling to get rid of the stink after angry residents emptied buckets full of human waste at its headquarters.
Weeks ago residents, known as the Ward 1 Concerned Residents, requested a meeting with municipal officials on Monday to give a list of their grievances.
When they were not happy with the outcome of the meeting, they surprised everyone by carrying buckets full of faeces and throwing them in the main hall of the municipal offices. Some protesters went to the local Sisonke District Municipality satellite offices and did the same thing.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident.
"Our members were called in when a group of protesters threw human waste in the municipal offices.
"Eight people - including the ringleaders of the protest - were arrested and have been charged with public violence and they will appear in the Kokstad Magistrate's Court tomorrow [today]," he said.
Nozuko Matyeni, one of the residents, said yesterday they were tired of empty promises for housing and better amenities from the municipalities.
She said they learnt their tactics from Cape Town township residents who attracted attention as "poo protesters" after they threw faeces at the offices of premier Helen Zille.
"Some residents said the only way we can get attention for our plight is by throwing faeces so officials listen to us," she said.
Other residents said shops neighbouring the municipality offices, including the local Kentucky Fried Chicken, were forced to close for the rest of the day.
Sabelo Ncwane, spokesman for the Greater Kokstad Municipality, said they were forced to let workers go home as they could not tolerate the stink and the filth.
"We had to engage a special service provider to get rid of the human waste from our offices and use disinfectants to get rid of the stink.
"Fortunately they were able to finish the job by Tuesday morning [yesterday] and services will resume on Wednesday."
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Poo protest hits Kokstad
THE Greater Kokstad Municipality is battling to get rid of the stink after angry residents emptied buckets full of human waste at its headquarters.
Weeks ago residents, known as the Ward 1 Concerned Residents, requested a meeting with municipal officials on Monday to give a list of their grievances.
When they were not happy with the outcome of the meeting, they surprised everyone by carrying buckets full of faeces and throwing them in the main hall of the municipal offices. Some protesters went to the local Sisonke District Municipality satellite offices and did the same thing.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane confirmed the incident.
"Our members were called in when a group of protesters threw human waste in the municipal offices.
"Eight people - including the ringleaders of the protest - were arrested and have been charged with public violence and they will appear in the Kokstad Magistrate's Court tomorrow [today]," he said.
Nozuko Matyeni, one of the residents, said yesterday they were tired of empty promises for housing and better amenities from the municipalities.
She said they learnt their tactics from Cape Town township residents who attracted attention as "poo protesters" after they threw faeces at the offices of premier Helen Zille.
"Some residents said the only way we can get attention for our plight is by throwing faeces so officials listen to us," she said.
Other residents said shops neighbouring the municipality offices, including the local Kentucky Fried Chicken, were forced to close for the rest of the day.
Sabelo Ncwane, spokesman for the Greater Kokstad Municipality, said they were forced to let workers go home as they could not tolerate the stink and the filth.
"We had to engage a special service provider to get rid of the human waste from our offices and use disinfectants to get rid of the stink.
"Fortunately they were able to finish the job by Tuesday morning [yesterday] and services will resume on Wednesday."
newsdesk@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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