Seven people have been arrested for infrastructure damage following protest action reportedly linked to a taxi strike across the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro today (Tuesday).
Various parts of the metro were affected by these protests from 06:00 this morning, where burning tyres and waste were placed in the streets, blocking traffic flow.
Some of the areas affected include: the R75 between Chatty Dip and Despatch and in front of KwaDwesi police station. Various points on the R335 in the vicinity of Motherwell and Ikamvelihle, which include the M17, Johnson Road, Koyana Street, Njoli Street, Spondo Road and Mavuso Road, were also affected by protests.
According to police spokesperson, Capt. André Beetge, the main entrances to Dora Nginza Hospital and Kenako Mall were blocked. “The M19 between Despatch and Swartkops, also Stanford Road and Nooitgedacht Road in Booysens Park, Govan Mbeki Road at Norwich taxi rank and the N2 freeway opposite BAIC between Truckers Inn and Coega Harbour, were blocked by protesters,” Beetge said.
“An uber taxi vehicle was burned in Nooitgedacht Road and another Quantum taxi in Old Uitenhage Road,” Beetge added. “A truck was also hijacked on the N2 and looted by approximately 1000 people on the N2 freeway close to BAIC where the barricades were placed in the road.”
He mentioned that police were mobilised to all the affected areas and points and by 10:00 most streets were open again, including the R75 and M19. In some streets the protests are sporadic.
“By 11:00 the R75 had been blocked again by about 30 taxis in Chatty Dip and a barricade at Westville was blocking both sides of the R75,” Beetge concluded.
