29 Mar 2024 | 12:12 PM UTC
South Africa: Ongoing service delivery protest near Cape Town March 29
Security services responding to service delivery protest along R310 near Cape Town, South Africa, March 29. Avoid area.
Security services are responding to a service delivery protest and road blockade along the R310, Baden Powell Drive, March 29. Protesters are likely residents of the nearby lower-income area of Khayelitsha in Cape Town. The precise motive for the protest is unclear. This is the second such protest within a week, following an incident in which protesters dug a trench through the road March 22.
Heightened security is likely in the affected area over the coming hours. Associated transport disruptions are probable, especially along the nearby N2. Further service delivery protests are possible in the coming days. Clashes between protesters and the police may occur if demonstrators ignore police orders to disperse or engage in acts of public violence.
Avoid all protests, and do not drive through roadblocks. Heed the directives of the local authorities and monitor local media for updates as protests will likely occur on short notice. Consider alternative routes around the impact areas. Plan for disruptions to both general travel and the transport of freight. Reconfirm the status of routes in the hours preceding travel. Reconfirm all public transport services that operate in or through the affected areas.
Service delivery protests are common in South Africa and could increase over the coming weeks. South Africa will hold its general election in May 2024 amid rolling power cuts, localized water shortages, and a lack of service delivery from authorities. In addition, socio-economic issues in certain lower-income areas - added to higher levels of violent crime, carjacking, sexual assaults, kidnapping, and murder - have driven residents to frequent protests, often involving road blockages.
Protesters recurrently block primary and secondary routes with debris during busy rush hour periods (early morning or evening); however, digging trenches is a new occurrence. Roadblocks, particularly to national highways (such as the N1/2/3/4/5/6/7), are usually cleared shortly after the start of the event. Acts of arson are rare but can occur. Some protests can last for several hours.
