South Africa: Disruptive protest in KwaMashu near Durban early Feb. 24

Event

A service delivery protest is underway in KwaMashu, located north of Durban, early Feb. 24. Residents are protesting persistent power outages. Numerous roads are reportedly blocked in the area, causing traffic congestion.

Authorities will likely deploy police to the impact site to manage the protest. Officials may seek to disperse or clear the demonstrators or roadblocks in the coming hours, which could trigger clashes. The unrest is likely to result in ground travel and public transport disruptions. The nearby N2 highway may also be impacted by traffic congestion or protest action. Disruptions to freight transport and business operations are possible, particularly if the action is protracted.

Context

Service delivery protests are common in South Africa, particularly in informal settlements near or adjoining major urban centers. Protests are regularly triggered by socio-economic issues, such as unemployment, lack of access to land, and lack of housing, or are in opposition to perceived or actual lack of service delivery, including but not limited to the provision of electricity and water and municipal or national-level corruption among state officials. Some protests can last for several hours; even if a protest ends, it can resume in the coming days if demands are unmet.

Advice

Avoid the protest. Consider alternative routes around the impact area. Plan for disruptions to both general travel and the transport of freight. Reconfirm the status of the route in the coming days. Heed the directives of the local authorities and monitor local media for updates. Reconfirm all public transport services that operate in or through the area.