The South African Human Rights Commission has played a leading role in helping to quell the protests at Plettenberg Bay which saw the N2 though the town closed for several days this week.
The Bitou Municipality said that the N2 had been reopened to traffic on Saturday after an official from the SAHRC helped broker an agreement with residents of Qolweni, who took to the streets on Tuesday morning.
Municipality spokesperson, Manfred van Rooyen, said that negotiations on Friday night between the residents and the municipality, including mayor, Msimbothi Lobese, were “primarily facilitated” by an official from the provincial office of the SAHR and “various other local role-players”.
He said the agreement and undertakings include, amongst other things, that the residents of Ward 3 at Qolweni would suspend protest action while a community liaison committee would be established to engage with the municipality on service delivery issues.
The SA Human Rights Commission would also facilitate these talks and the drafting and monitoring of a programme of action for improved service delivery.
Van Rooyen said that they expect “a return to business as usual” on Monday.
Meanwhile, Plettenberg Bay police confirmed that at least 81 people have been arrested following the protests and face charges of public violence, malicious damage to property, theft and being in the possession of stolen goods.
