Soweto protests are expected to break out in parts of the Johannesburg township on Tuesday, 21 June 2022. Here are the latest updates.
UPDATE: Soweto protesters made it to the mayor’s office in Braamfontein on Tuesday afternoon. After a prolonged stalemate, Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse surfaced from her office to accept a memorandum of demands. – 14:23
[WATCH] Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse, flanked by some MMC’s, comes out to accept a memorandum of demands. She says she is okay. #sowetoshutdown @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/qzYOcqCclE
— Linda Mnisi (@LindA_MniSii) June 21, 2022
UPDATE: – Protesters are gathering in large numbers outside Maponya Mall. Motorists and commuters are warned to avoid the area and, at all costs, not to antagonise protesters. – 09:34
HAPPENING NOW: throngs of community members from Soweto have arrived at Maponya Mall after a lull this morning. It’s chilly but the spirit is heating up. Taxis are arriving with more people ahead of the march to mayor Mpho Phalatse’s office in Braamfontein. #sowetoshutdown pic.twitter.com/qgLIGPHXgx
— Nokukhanya ‘Siri’ Mntambo (@khanya_mntambo) June 21, 2022
Soweto protests: Are Rea Vaya services running?
Workers who rely on the bus service to get to business districts in Johannesburg were forced to find alternative means to travel after key routes used by Rea Vaya were blocked off with burning rubble, tyres are large rocks, on Monday.
On Tuesday, normal Rea Vayoperations returned with no disruptions, as confirmed by the bus service in a statement released on social media.
⚠️The bus service is operating normal with no disruption 🙌.^BM
— Rea Vaya Bus Transit (@ReaVayaBus) June 21, 2022
The bus service’s routes had not been reopened at the time this article was published.
Why are Soweto residents protesting?
From what we understand, the unrest that broke out in parts of Soweto, on Monday, is only a preamble to the protest action planned by Operation Dudula and other community organisations.
In a public service announcement issued on Sunday, Operation Dudula leader Nhlanhla Lux rallied residents of Dobsonville, Soweto and other parts of the Johannesburg township to meet at Dorothy Nyembe Park, at 16:00.
The venue, Nhanhla explained in the video below, will be the starting point of a protest that will head to Eskom headquarters and the Johannesburg mayor’s office.
The Soweto protests, we believe, are linked to service delivery issues.
Moreover, a poster has been doing the rounds on social media, warning of another protest that is reportedly taking place on Tuesday. According to the information listed on the flyer, the second day of the protest will involve delivering a memorandum to the office of Joburg Mayor Mpho Phalatse.
The march is tomorrow, today was just a friendly little shut down but we’re done. All entrances & exits are open except in Pimville/Klipspruit. https://t.co/RrjOddwwt8 pic.twitter.com/ndrUi0gkfC
— Katlee 🍒 (@JustKatlee) June 20, 2022
Road closures on Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Motorists and commuters are advised to avoid these routes on Tuesday, 21 June 2022:
- Roads in and around Maponya Mall
- All routes between Maponya Mall and Peter Ross Park, on Empire Road
- All routes between Peter Ross Park and mayor’s office in Braamfontein