ArabianBusiness.com - Middle East Business News
Thursday, 08 January 2009 12:18 UAE time

YOUR DIRECTORY /

Print this page Print this page | Email this to a friend Email this to a friend | Discuss this article (1 Comments) |

Arrests, injuries at protest against Dubai developer's scheme

by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  on Friday, 05 December 2008
UGLY SCENE: Ruwaad's South African mega-project has sparked violent demonstrations. (ITP Images)

Fifteen people were arrested and another 12 were seriously injured in protests over a Dubai-based company's plan to build a $4 billion project in South Africa.

Protests against Ruwaad's proposal to develop vast tracts of Macambini land for Amazulu World, a 16,500 hectare-entertainment and destination development turned ugly on Thursday.

Billed as the continent's largest development and located in the northeast of South Africa, the project will target national, regional and international visitors.

Story continues below
advertisement

Thousands of demonstrators blocked the N2 freeway and pelted motorists with stones. Fifteen people were arrested and 12 others seriously injured, community leader Khanyisani Shandu told the local Sowetan newspaper.

A police spokesman said about 3,000 people set up barricades at several bridges along the N2 freeway and were “very violent”.

He added that the police initially used pepper spray to try to disperse the protesters. When that failed they used rubber bullets.

The protesters threw stones at motorists and set up barricades of burning tyres in a bid to get Ruwaad to withdraw their proposed Amazulu World project.

Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Sibusiso Ndebele, last week was sent an ultimatum by protesters giving him seven days to respond to their demands to withdraw the Ruwaad project.

Ndebele is quoted by the Sowetan as saying: “I do do not understand why the community is marching. There has been no agreement on the project. It is just a proposal.

“We met the community and explained to them that this is a proposed development with private investors.

“The process of consultation will continue and people have a right to accept or reject the project.”

Print Print | Email Email | Discuss this article |


READERS' COMMENTS

surprised
Posted by Jones, Durban on Wednesday 10 December 2008 at 15:47 UAE time


I am shocked and surprised to see how a few people in the community can manipulate the interests for the whole community and put their futures in jeopardy. After reading the various articles in the South African press, it is so obvious that all of these nonsensical protests are a product of personal and political interest by the local leader on the ground. I mean how do you say you don’t want a project that guarantees better housing, better health care, better education, better employment opportunities….?!?!?! Funnily, I read this morning other public requests being made by other land owners in South Africa saying that they would welcome Ruwaad with open arms on their land as Ruwaad has promised to do so much for the people on the ground. Let’s hope something positive comes out of all of this – the province can’t afford to lose another proposed investment!

Click here to post a comment


Add your Comment
All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *
(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Security Code * Code


Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.


MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM

RELATED STORIES

Ruwaad Holdings LLC
| 24 stories
  1. Ruwaad '100% committed' to Amazulu World
  2. African ambition

RELATED LINKS

  1. Ruwaad Holdings LLC»

 EMAIL ALERTS

  1. Ruwaad Holdings LLC

  2. Construction & Industry



Rich List 2008
EMIRATES ID DOWNLOAD

READER COMMENTS

  1. Nakheel offers help to World sub-contractors 1
    08 Jan ' 09 at 10:05
    This is very interesting. The word on the street is thatNakheel is finding it extremely difficult to raise financing themselves and now...  More »
  2. Dow threatens legal action over Kuwaiti deal 1
    08 Jan ' 09 at 04:23
    Even American and European oil& gas companies are postponing or cancelling projects and no government or commercial clients are suing...  More »
Read all user comments >

BUSINESS FEATURES

Zero energy brighter future

A German architectural firm is to build the world's first tower with a zero carbon footprint in Bahrain.

Surging ahead

BMI forecasts Kuwait's construction industry to grow at 4.22% during 2008-12.

Bahrain's new island life

How will Bahrain's Amwaj Islands be affected by material problems and economic uncertainty?

BUSINESS INTERVIEWS

Leave only footprints

The UAE environment and water minister on how to reduce the country's ecological footprint.

Star attraction

Former international model and celebrity designer Kimberly Green gets ready to take on the Middle East.

The man behind the mosque

Aedas' Fariborz Hatam goes on record about building the mosque that has everyone talking.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM