22 Mar 2024 | 07:37 AM UTC
South Africa: Service delivery protest closes road near Cape Town early March 22
Protesters dig trench, force road closure along R310 near Cape Town, South Africa, March 22. Avoid area; proceed with caution.
Protesters, likely residents of the nearby lower-income area of Khayelitsha in Cape Town, have dug a trench across the R310, Baden Powell Drive, forcing authorities to close the road early March 22. The motive for the protest is unclear but could be related to perceived poor service delivery in the area.
Heightened security is likely in the affected area over the coming hours. Associated transport disruptions are probable. 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.
