Chaos was the order of the day in Tsakane, East Rand, on Tuesday, where residents clashed with riot police.
What prompted the Tsakane protests?
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According to reports, Tsakane residents have been without running water for several weeks, leading to their frustrations boiling over into protests.
Ignatius Maphike, spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, confirmed that all roads in the Tsakane area had been cordoned off by protestors.
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The demonstrators used burning tires and rocks to block roads, prompting cautionary measures for motorists.
Maphike urged drivers to exercise caution and seek alternative routes such as R550 and R23 to avoid potential damage to their vehicles.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and there have been no recorded damages to infrastructure as of yet.
Take a look at some of the videos showing the Tsakane protests below:
Elsewhere in Johannesburg, rival minibus taxi operators engaged in a standoff that left frustrated motorists stranded in lengthy traffic jams.
The incident unfolded at the busy intersection of Perth Road and Portland Avenue in Westdene, west of Johannesburg, as tensions flared over a suspected dispute related to taxi routes.
Eyewitnesses reported that the operators used stones to block the road and threatened passing motorists, creating a volatile situation. Metro Police were on the scene to monitor the situation as chaos unfolded.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla confirmed that officers were present to address the situation. He stated:
“The situation is calm at the moment, and officers are on scene to assist with traffic control and to open the roadway. The actual corral between the two associations is not yet being confirmed, but it is alleged that it’s due to a route dispute.”
Fihla further noted that the road had since been reopened, and a meeting had been arranged between law enforcement and taxi operators to seek an amicable resolution to their grievances.
