Arrests, injuries at protest against Dubai developer's scheme

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.

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.”

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