THEY applied timeously for permission to protest against a lack of service delivery and were turned down, so now fed-up Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, residents have vowed to go ahead with their protest today.

THEY applied timeously for permission to protest against a lack of service delivery and were turned down, so now fed-up Nquthu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, residents have vowed to go ahead with their protest today.

Sowetanis in possession of a copy of their last application letter - dated March 26 - in which they applied for permission to protest on April 16.

Sowetan is also in possession of the municipality's response acknowledging receipt of the letter and turning it down because of the current SA Municipal Workers Union's strike.

Meluleki Ndlovu of Sizakancane Small Business Association said they had applied three times to the Nquthu municipality and were turned down on all three occasions because "municipal officials are covering up corruption and failing to deliver the necessary services to people".

The Nquthu municipality is one of the poorest in the province. Ndlovu said the municipality was using the strike as a scapegoat.

"Residents are fed up because there's no development taking place. We wanted to march to raise our grievances," he said.

Municipal manager Bongi Gumbi did not respond to our calls and text messages.