Motorists in the vicinity of Clearwater Mall, Roodepoort, found themselves in the midst of a transport turmoil as taxi protests took a violent turn on Hendrik Potgieter Road, between Christiaan de Wet and Fredenharry roads.
Why motorists should avoid Hendrik Potgieter Road near Clearwater Mall
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In a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday, 4 October 2023, the Honeydew Community Policing Forum (CPF) attributed the closure of this major thoroughfare to escalating taxi violence, urging residents and commuters to adopt alternative routes to bypass the beleaguered area.
The closure was later lifted according to a subsequent update from Honeydew CPF, albeit with a stern advisory for residents to avoid the area for the rest of the afternoon due to persisting volatility.
There’s palpable concern among local authorities that tensions might rekindle, leading to a re-imposition of the road closure.
Eyewitness accounts painted a chaotic scene with rocks and paving stones hurled, causing significant damage to both vehicles and posing a grave risk to pedestrians near the scene.
The mayhem marked a severe disruption, not only stalling the traffic but also instilling fear among the residents and motorists.
At the time of this report, the root cause of the taxi violence remains veiled in ambiguity as details were yet to be fully unearthed.
Take a look at the events that transpired on Hendrik Potgieter Road, captured on camera by onlookers.