MEC Nkonyeni appeals to communities to protect departmental personnel working on flood-damaged projects after a state vehicle was hijacked in Durban
The MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Ms. Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni, has strongly condemned the hijacking of a departmental vehicle when officials were working to repair flood-damaged projects in Durban.
The incident happened today (27 April 2022), when the departmental officials were held at gunpoint and the suspects fled with a white departmental Ford Ranger double cab (KZN 13445).
The incident happened at the Shell Garage at KwaMuthwa outside uMlazi.
A case of carjacking has been opened and is being investigated by the police. The Department appeals to anyone with information to share such with the police to recover the vehicle.
Department technicians were traveling from the site where they were fixing road L1159 in uMbumbulu, which was washed away during the recent floods.
The Departmental teams are hard at work, collaborating with other spheres of government as part of the recovery and reconstruction plan to rebuild KwaZulu-Natal.
Yellow plant and Departmental personnel from other parts of the province have been assigned to assist the flood-ravaged districts including eThekwini Metro, Ugu, Ilembe, and King Cetshwayo districts.
The Department has well over 1369 road infrastructure projects affected by the recent floods and requires an estimate of R6.3 billion to repair the damage and restore safe connectivity in the province.
Reacting to this inhumane deed, MEC Nkonyeni, said it is unfortunate that Departmental employees are sacrificing their holidays to service communities only to be targets of criminals.
“Our teams are doing all they can to attend to all flood-affected projects – only to be traumatised and be victimised by criminals. This is undermining the government-led recovery and reconstruction plan. We strongly condemn this act of criminality and it must be punished harshly.
Government officials and equipment are public resources and are servicing the community. What kind of society would attack and harm the assistance meant to restore projects affecting their livelihoods? We appeal to the police to urgently find the perpetrators.
Communities as well should protect state employees and state equipment,” said Nkonyeni.
