Chaos as protests erupt all over South Africa

Reports of protests in various parts of South Africa have been received as the “Total Shutdown” movement spreads.

Tshwane is reportedly undergoing a shutdown, with Mokopane and Shoshanguve apparently blocked and inaccessible. There are also reports that the R101 near Hammanskraal has been barricaded. Clouds of smoke above Hammanskraal have also been reported.

Motorists in the area can expect delays of up to an hour in the Tshwane area according to Power FM.

Protesters are taking to the streets, reportedly due to what they believe is a lack of service delivery in area.

A poster promoting a “Total shutdown” of Tshwane has been shared widely on social media, with the slogan “the DA/EFF administration must go” and a list of reasons for the protest, which according to the poster are “corruption in Tshwane”, “lack of service delivery”, “massive job losses”, “racism of politicians and officials”, an “unfair billing system”, and “arbitrary taxi fines and impounding”.

A Power FM caller has also said there are protests over ongoing problems regarding electricity in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng.

There have also been reports of JMPD firing rubber bullets at protesters in Orange Grove, Johannesburg. The protestors were reportedly blocking traffic near Louis Botha Avenue, demanding that mayor Herman Mashaba allocates houses to them.

Over in the Western Cape, protests are also taking place between Somerset West and Cape Town, with reports of burning tyres and vehicles being stoned and set alight.

Cape Town’s biggest township, Khayelitsha, is apparently undergoing a shutdown, with burning tyres and rocks blocking roads.

According to TimesLive, a Khayelitsha total shutdown has been planned over water bills. Protesters accuse the City of Cape Town of “ripping off” the poor with high bills.

An organisation called the Water Crisis and High Bills group – chaired by a preacher from a local Methodist church, Bishop Derrick – is allegedly behind the protests, which began at 3am at the church.

Reports have also been received that there are protests in Kroonstad in the Free State, including road closures and burning tyres.

Residents have apparently embarked on the protest after alleging the area’s municipality has been misusing money meant to build a new mall in the area.

The Democratic Alliance, meanwhile, has tweeted that “the Tshwane, Alex, and Khayelitsha violent protests are a clear indication that the ANC is prepared to burn the country to the ground, as they are on the verge of losing more provinces in the coming elections”.

This is a developing story.

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