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By IOL Reporter 
4h ago
Durban – Disgruntled military veterans from Mkhonto Wesizwe blocked several major routes into Durban on Friday, including the N3 east and west into the city for what they believe is the government’s “betrayal” of their welfare since the dawn of democracy.
Military veterans blocked the road in the Warwick Triangle, the main transportation hub for Durban residents, marched down the busy King Dinizulu (Berea) road and disrupted traffic early in the morning.
However, police pulled the group off the roads and opened it to traffic, said Durban Metro Police spokesman Superintendent Parboo Sewpersad.
He said that the military veterans had divided into small groups and were protesting mainly in the city center.
“The police are monitoring them. After getting them off the roads this morning, they are gathering in the CBD and intend to march to the provincial ANC offices on Commercial Road, ”Sewpersad said.
Earlier this week, several voice memos circulated on social media allegedly from MK members who threatened to protest across the province.
KwaZulu-Natal police said that deployments were put in place to deal with such protests and that they will be reinforced along the identified routes and locations.
“Various SAPS units will work in conjunction with the Durban Metropolitan Police, the Road Traffic Inspectorate and other actors. We will not negotiate with anyone blocking our roads and those people will be treated in terms of the law, ”said police spokesman Brig. Jay Naicker.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Major General Thulani Gonya has tasked police officers with dealing with crime decisively. “We will enforce the laws of this country and anyone found in violation will be arrested. We will make sure that disaster management regulations are also enforced in terms of prohibited assemblies, as well as the number in terms of assemblies that will be allowed, ”he said.
Last month, members of the Mkhonto Wesizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) threatened to march to Union Buildings for a hunger strike until they come to the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The threat of a hunger strike was one of several resolutions adopted during a meeting of disgruntled members in KwaMashu, north of Durban, in late August.
The meeting attended by some 150 former liberation soldiers who fall under the MKMVA umbrella wanted Ramaphosa to establish a commission of inquiry to examine the welfare of all liberation soldiers from all liberation parties.
Speaking to Independent Media in August, spokesman for the disgruntled group, Lwazi Mzobe, said they feel betrayed and neglected by the ruling party’s government as most of them are struggling to make ends meet.
He said the commission should not only consider their well-being at the present time, but also their plight since 1990, when they returned to the country after being away for years.
Daily News
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