KZN protesters destroy new clinic

21 April 2016 - 02:41 By Nathi Olifant and Matthew Savides

Thirty people have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal in the past three days after service-delivery protests that caused millions of rands worth of damage.A new R2-million clinic, house and a vehicle were razed in protests that have gripped Pietermaritzburg and Durban since Monday.In Folweni, south of Durban, a truck was set alight yesterday and three of its occupants were injured.In Copesville, a settlement east of Pietermaritzburg, protest flared on Monday, with 5000 residents blockading the New Greytown Road with burning tyres, stones and metal barriers.A councillor's house and two park homes of the local clinic were also set alight.Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo visited the site yesterday."I really sympathise with the community for their loss. We were just getting ready to open [the clinic] in the coming week - now it is no more," said Dhlomo.Police spokesman Major Thulani Zwane said most of the protests were related to service delivery."A case of attempted murder was opened at Folweni police station and three people were arrested."In Copesville, 27 suspects were arrested and charged with public violence," said Zwane.The group appeared in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday and were released on warning until May 24.In Pietermaritzburg, municipal trucks blockaded city intersections.City spokesman Thulani Mbatha said officials had received a memorandum from employees."The situation is under control," said Mbatha...

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