A spate of protests broke out in Cape Town on Friday, affecting traffic on key routes in the eastern periphery.
Cape Town protests: Here are the latest updates on Nyanga unrest
According to reports from Weekend Argus journo Velani Ludidi, tensions have been palpable in areas around Nyanga where, a week ago, three Golden Arrow buses and at least two other vehicles were set alight.
Friday’s unrest comes on the heels of a seizure operation targeting Avanza taxis that was effected on Thursday.
According to Ludidi, more than 30 taxis were reportedly impounded, a move that seems to have angered illegal transport bosses.
Consequently, spurts of unrest broke out in Nyanga, Phillippi and Samora Mache on Friday morning, where another Golden Arrow bus was set alight.
Moreover, unverified reports suggest that a security guard’s post in Nyanga was allegedly torched in the unrest, as well as a police vehicle.
Our request for comment from Cape Town police had not been met with a response at the time this article was published.
This is a developing story.
Road closures to take note of on Friday, 2 September 2022
In a statement, the City of Cape Town’s traffic service confirmed that teams of officials have been deployed to divert congestion away from parts of the eastern periphery with reports of unrest.
While the R300 highway that connects eastern Cape Town to the northern suburbs has been reopened in both directions, Cape Town motorists are advised to avoid, at all cost, these routes that, at the time this article was published, were either closed or prone to violence.
- Govan Mbeki Road, eastbound, closed at Duinefontein Road;
- Govan Mbeki Road, westbound, closed at New Eisleben;
- Borcherds Quarry entrance to Nyanga closed; and
- Klipfontein Road closed.
“Motorists are requested to proceed with caution and seek alternative routes,” the Cape Town traffic services noted.