Traditional leader of Inadi, Inkosi Vusizwe kaSondelani Zondi, has ordered the suspension of the tarring of the D2605 and D1134 roads in the area until community grievances surrounding the multi-million-rand project are addressed.
Image: Vukuzenzele
A contractor working on a R110 million road-tarring project in Inadi, Pietermaritzburg, has been ordered to leave the area after allegedly ignoring directives from traditional leader Inkosi Vusizwe kaSondelani Zondi to halt construction until community grievances are addressed.
The dispute centres on allegations by local businesses that they have been excluded from benefiting from the multi-million-rand infrastructure project. In response, Inkosi Zondi instructed the contractor to suspend operations and only return once engagements with affected stakeholders had taken place.
Community members and local business owners subsequently blocked access to the construction site in protest.
Swelakhe Shelembe, chairperson of the board advising the Inkosi, said the traditional leader issued the directive last week, but the contractor has allegedly continued with construction despite the instruction.
“The contractor continues despite providing no benefit to the community,” said Shelembe.
“Inkosi wrote to the contractor requesting a meeting in order to avoid tensions within the community, but the request was ignored.”
He said the Inkosi had asked the contractor to stop work until the concerns raised by local businesses had been resolved.
“That instruction was also ignored. They are continuing with work, which is why the community is taking a stand. We are saying the same thing — stop the work so that a solution can be found. Inkosi cannot allow a project that divides the community,” he said.
According to Shelembe, local businesses are entitled to benefit from at least 30% of development projects undertaken in their communities.
“There are many local businesses that are not getting opportunities while outsiders continue to benefit,” he said.
He added that the community is now awaiting a meeting with relevant stakeholders, including the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral), in an effort to resolve the impasse.
The atmosphere remained tense as community members staged a silent protest opposite security personnel hired by the construction company responsible for tarring the D2065 and D1134 roads in Pietermaritzburg.
D2065 provides access to local schools whilst D1134 provides access to the local healthcare facilities.
Attempts to obtain comment from the construction company awarded the tender were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
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