South Africa: Protest and heavy rain in Cape Town disrupt traffic May 24

Event

Major traffic disruptions were reported on the morning of Thursday, May 24 (local time), in Cape Town due to road closures related to violent protests as well as heavy rain. The M3, M5, and M10 roads are particularly affected.

On Wednesday night, roads were blocked for the second consecutive night in the city center, including a portion of the M10 - also known as the Robert Sobukwe Road and which leads to the city’s international airport - by protesters burning tires and throwing stones at vehicles to protest land appropriations. Further protests, potentially involving clashes between protesters and police, are likely.

Furthermore, heavy morning rainfall was reported across the city on Thursday. Further rain and localized flooding are expected in the coming hours and days in the Western Cape region, as the winter season gets underway.

Context

The Parliament voted in February in favor of the appropriation of land without compensation, in favor of the black majority community, which has prompted protests across the country.

The Cape region often experiences heavy rains and associated floods and landslides during the southern hemisphere winter (June to August).

Advice

Individuals present in Cape Town are advised to keep abreast of the situation, avoid all protests and areas hit by flooding, and adhere to any orders issued by the local authorities or their home governments. Remember that driving or walking through running water can be dangerous - 15 cm (6 in) of running water is enough to knock over an adult.