As government departments begin counting the cost of protest action in Durban this week‚ the provincial heath department has confirmed that at least R1.16-million worth of damage was caused to its facilities. Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo said it was “shameful” that the protesters could have caused the damage during their action‚ which started in the early hours of Monday morning. Vehicles were burnt‚ roads were blockaded and buildings were damaged as part of the protest‚ which was allegedly over unhappiness with the ANC's candidates for the upcoming local government elections.In a statement‚ the KZN health department said that the Sea Cow Lake Laundry was damaged‚ as was a specialised truck.Department spokesman Desmond Motha said the laundry was the department's biggest in the eThekwini region‚ and was used to clean linen and distribute it to the various municipal clinics and hospitals. The burnt truck was designed to have different compartments so that clean and dirty linen were always separated when deliveries and pick-ups were made.“Members of the community in the Sea Cow Lake area in Durban started their protest in front of the laundry on June 6. They then proceeded to make a forced entry into the main gate of the Regional Laundry. In the process they smashed and broke the windows of the laundry building and [parked] cars. They then pushed an 8-ton truck as well as a Renault Kangaroo panel van outside and set them on fire‚” Motha said.Ninety windows were broken‚ as was the main gate. Copper piping was also stolen. In total‚ about R1.16-million in damage was caused.Dhlomo said: “We again appeal to our people that in whatever they are unhappy about‚ let them spare the government property meant to assist them in their hour of need.”..