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The DA is very concerned about the protest action in Fort Beaufort that has brought the local economy to a grinding halt.

A group of residents have blocked the R63 entrance road to the town with burning tyres and are holding residents to ransom.

These community members are protesting because they believe nepotism is behind them not receiving job opportunities at three road construction projects in the area. The construction projects are the R63 between Alice and Fort Beaufort, the road from Fort Beaufort to Healdtown, and street paving in Fort Beaufort.

The protestors claim that local ANC councillors in the Raymond Mhlaba Municipality are recruiting their own cronies for jobs at these sites and are not giving other communities an opportunity.

What is more concerning is that ANC political leadership of the municipality has been engaged by the residents, but have failed to resolve the matter.

Fort Beaufort is a hub for citrus production in the Eastern Cape, and this protest action is taking place during the peak of the citrus season.

This mass action is negatively affecting the economy of the area and could lead to job losses.

I will write to the municipality and the Eastern MEC for Roads and Transport, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, to intervene and ensure a speedy resolution to the issue. I will also ask the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Xolile Nqatha, to intervene and address this matter with the municipality.

The DA will not stand by while the economy of the town is being destroyed.

It is time for change, and Fort Beaufort's people can ensure this change by voting for the DA during the local government elections on 27 October 2021.

Issued by The DA