News24 | WATCH | Cape Town protesters cause traffic delays, demand service delivery

Voortrekker Road is closed in both directions next to Maitland Cemetery due to a service delivery protest by the Gate 7 community.

• Protesters blocked a major road in Cape Town.
• The protesters demanded service delivery, saying they have not had water, toilets or electricity.
• Police officers were called to disperse the crowd.

Tyres and debris were set alight in a service delivery protest in Cape Town on Monday morning, causing major traffic disruptions.

Police officers were called in to disperse the crowd.

Voortrekker Road was closed in both directions next to the Maitland Cemetery because of the protest by the Gate 7 community.

City of Cape Town Traffic spokesperson Kevin Jacobs advised motorists to seek alternative routes.

“Cape Town traffic officers are attending to incidents of public violence this morning. Voortrekker Road is closed between Jakes Gerwel Drive and 18th Avenue in the Factreton area,” he said.

Siyavuya Mbaleki, 33, said the protesters hoped to get authorities’ attention.

“The reason we are here today is to try to get the attention of the municipality and other government stakeholders to at least come and hear our say as Gate 7 residents, because services are needed here. There’s no water, toilets, or electricity, and the land we’re occupying is private land. This is our last option: to come and block the road so that we can get their attention.”

Anele Stofile, 46, and Nandipha Matibane, 36, demanded water, electricity and sanitation.

“We are trying to do our best to show them we are serious. That’s why we are doing this. Other people have been staying here for more than 25 years. We cannot stay in these conditions,” said Stofile.

“When it’s raining, people stay in [flood] water. This place is not right.”

Matibane said the residents had approached the council, but had yet to see any action.

“Each and every Thursday, we go to Cape Town. There will always be meetings there. We are trying to lay our demands there. There is no one who will come back to us. That’s why we have decided to protest,” Matibane said.

Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said Public Order Police and other law enforcement officers were monitoring service delivery.

He said burning tyres blocked off the road but that the protesters had been dispersed.

“Law enforcement agencies will remain in the affected area until calm has been restored,” Twigg added.