DURBAN - WHILE calm appears to have been restored and services have resumed in eThekwini after week-long protests and looting of shops which police seemed to struggle to control, opposition parties say it will take years to rebuild the economy.
With the nation still in shock, rebuilding and strengthening the economy could take years after damage to property and looting engulfed the province and spread to other parts of the country. The shocking scenes drew media attention across the world.
The leader of the DA in eThekwini, Nicole Graham, said that residents in the municipality must be commended for coming together and protecting what was left of the municipality and the economy.
Graham said the situation left law enforcement agencies naked and exposed after the police struggled to act decisively.
“There is still panic and uncertainty (and) we can’t let our guard down just yet, but it is encouraging to see things resemble normality again. The real heroes are the people who were able to protect themselves during the height of the violence. Had it not been for the ordinary men and women who came together, the city would have been left with nothing.”
She said it was critical for the state and the city to be progressive stakeholders in the process of rebuilding.
Mdu Nkosi, member of the executive council from the IFP, said the past week’s events were part of the factional battles in the ruling party.
“Unfortunately, it will take us more than 30 years to rebuild what has been broken and recover from the weakened economy,” said Nkosi.
Meanwhile, the municipality has announced that as of on Monday all its service units are expected to be in normal operation, including refuse collection and street sweeping.
“The municipal bus service will be operational, but the Durban Transport service will be operating a ‘B timetable’ due to schools being closed. Bus operations are to start at 4am except for routes operating via Phoenix, eg Mount Edgecombe, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital. The Umhlanga service will be diverted not to operate via Phoenix,” said spokesperson Lindiwe Khuzwayo.
Daily News