Saturday, February 22, 2025

March 24, 2022

Avoid The N2 Inbound In Cape Town At All Costs Today [Videos]

A taxi strike in Cape Town caused major backlogs on the N2, and there are also reports of buses being set alight and some vehicles being stoned.

[imagesource: Twitter / @TrafficSA]

It’s too late for the thousands of commuters who were stuck bumper to bumper this morning, but perhaps this warning can save somebody a traffic migraine.

A taxi strike in Cape Town is causing major backlogs on the N2, and there are also reports of buses being set alight and some vehicles being stoned.

Mayoral committee member for safety and security in the city, JP Smith, said a planned protest by two taxi associations had been approved.

However, Smith says things have taken a turn, reports TimesLIVE:

“There have been reports of buses set alight in Nyanga as well as of taxis blocking the N2 roadway in the vicinity of Khayelitsha and Kraaifontein. Emergency services and policing agencies are on the scene.”

Golden Arrow Bus Services said in an alert to commuters posted on its Facebook page, “unfortunately it has been a rough morning across Cape Town. There have been incidents targeting our buses and as such please be aware that we may have to make diversions and other difficult safety-related decisions.”

According to IOL, the taxis are protesting grievances which include “the impoundments of taxis, unfair requirements for the release of impounded taxis and other issues directly affecting the Cape’s taxi industry”.

There are an estimated 2 000 taxi operators expected to take part in the strike, with the majority operating routes that depart from Nyanga and Khayelitsha.

Footage of the protest has been shared all morning with people advised to avoid the N2 Inbound at all costs:

From the 1:45 mark below, you can see some involved in the strike clashing and threatening passing vehicles:

Thankfully, a degree of order does appear to have been restored:

The taxis blocking traffic have led to multiple road closures. EWN says these routes are among the most affected:

  • N2 at Spine diverting onto Spine Road
  • N2 inbound at R300 diverting onto R300
  • N2 inbound at Borchers’s Quarry diverting onto airport approach and Nyanga/Gugulethu areas

Eventually, taxi operators that fall under the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) will march from Hanover Street to the provincial legislature in Wale Street to voice their concerns to Premier Alan Winde.

Here’s hoping all employers whose staff have had a nightmare morning on the way to work show some understanding.

[sources:timeslive&iol&ewn]