Mthatha

2024 - 5 - 27

Mthatha Madness: Chaos Ensues as Taxi Protests Block Main Roads

army deployment - Eastern Cape Department of Health - Eastern Cape government - hospital disruptions - Mthatha - Mthatha Airport - police clashes - SA National Defence Force - taxi operators - taxi protests

Discover the dramatic events unfolding in Mthatha as taxi protests lead to road blockades and arrests

The town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape is currently in turmoil as taxi operators have taken to the streets in protest, causing major disruptions to essential services. The blockage of main entry points by the taxi drivers has resulted in chaos, with hospitals impacted and roads closed. The situation escalated when police officers were shot at during the protests, leading to arrests and a tense atmosphere in the town.

Calls for army deployment have intensified as the protests show no signs of abating. The Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety Department has urged for military assistance due to looting and escalating violence. The situation has forced the Eastern Cape government to enlist the help of the SA National Defence Force to restore order and quell the unrest.

Despite efforts to control the situation, Mthatha remains effectively shut off with key roads like the N2 and R61 closed to traffic. Motorists are advised to find alternative routes to avoid the affected areas. The disruption has even impacted the casting of special votes, reflecting the widespread consequences of the ongoing protests.

In a surprising turn of events, the taxi operators behind the protest have hijacked trucks, worsening the situation and displaying the extent of the unrest. With the roads blocked and tensions high, the public has been warned against inciting violence through video sharing. The State has emphasized its commitment to dealing with the escalating protests in Mthatha effectively.

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Image courtesy of "South African Government News Agency"

Main entry points in Mthatha blocked, affecting essential services (South African Government News Agency)

The Eastern Cape Department of Health has confirmed that services have been affected in hospitals in and around Mthatha by the blocking of the N2 and R61 ...

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Image courtesy of "Daily Maverick"

Police officers come under fire in Mthatha as taxi violence spirals out ... (Daily Maverick)

Police officers made arrests after being shot at on Monday morning as violence at a taxi blockade of Mthatha erupted.

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Taxi operators block Mthatha roads, calls mount for army deployment (eNCA)

The Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety is calling for the deployment of the army as there has been looting of trucks.

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

Eastern Cape calls on army to help with taxi protests in Mthatha (Business Day)

Transport and community safety department spokesperson says protesters have blocked the main roads in the town.

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Image courtesy of "News24"

'We want our guns back': Taxi operators shut down Mthatha over ... (News24)

The Eastern Cape government has roped in the SA National Defence Force to help bring taxi violence in Mthatha under control.

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Image courtesy of "DispatchLIVE"

Mthatha still shut off as taxi violence erupts (DispatchLIVE)

“Currently the main road – the N2 and the R61 is closed. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes and to avoid these roads,” said Col Priscilla Naidu.

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Image courtesy of "Algoa FM"

Arrests made as shots fired at Mthatha cops (Algoa FM)

Five people were arrested in Mthatha on Monday after shots were fired at police. The incident comes amid a blockade of the N2 entry points to the.

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

Mthatha protest action: N2 closed, high police presence, five arrested (Independent Online)

Police have described the situation in Mthatha as tense, with many roads in and out of Mthatha still closed since Monday morning.

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

Casting of special votes disrupted by taxi protest in Mthatha (Business Day)

Eastern Cape department of transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose told Business Day the taxi operators behind the protest were angry that the police recently ...

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Image courtesy of "defenceWeb"

Public warned against sharing videos inciting violence as protests ... (defenceWeb)

Blocked roads around Mthatha due to taxi violence. Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha has warned the public that the State will deal ...

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

Taxi operators block Mthatha roads, calls mount for army deployment (eNCA)

EASTERN CAPE - Protesting taxi drivers have hijacked trucks and blocked main roads into Mthatha. · The protests are in response to a police crackdown following ...

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Image courtesy of "Johannesburg Sunday World"

Mthatha hospitals grind to a halt as taxi shutdown intensifies (Johannesburg Sunday World)

Hospitals in Mthatha have been forced to operate with skeleton staff as the taxi strike intensified on Monday. In the morning, healthcare.

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Image courtesy of "News24"

Guns seized from Eastern Cape taxi operators linked to shooting ... (News24)

The Eastern Cape government said three of the 43 firearms confiscated from taxi operators and guards in Mthatha over the weekend were directly linked to a ...

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

WATCH | Mthatha Unrest | Increased police visibility expected (eNCA)

JOHANNESBURG - The SAPS will deploy more public order police to curb any threats of violence in Mthatha. The Eastern Cape town was brought to a grinding ...

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Image courtesy of "News24"

Mthatha Airport to resume services after armed men stormed ... (News24)

They did so amid violent taxi-related protests in the Eastern Cape town. Two of the men were injured in a shootout with police. Operations at Mthatha Airport in ...

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Image courtesy of "SABC News"

Transport services, Mthatha Airport to resume operations - SABC ... (SABC News)

Provincial Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose says that services at the airport were halted after five armed men wearing balaclavas stormed the facility, ...

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Image courtesy of "TimesLIVE"

Mthatha returns to normalcy after taxi chaos on first day of special ... (TimesLIVE)

Roads were reopened and the Mthatha Airport is set to resume its service on Tuesday after a taxi protest disrupted traffic and flights, car rental and other ...

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Image courtesy of "Independent Online"

Mthatha taxi strike hits special votes (Independent Online)

Police increase deployment of officers in Mthatha, Eastern Cape after IEC truck was looted in violence.

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Image courtesy of "eNCA"

UPDATE | Mthatha Unrest | Increased police visibility expected (eNCA)

JOHANNESBURG - The SAPS will deploy more public order police to curb any threats of violence in Mthatha. The Eastern Cape town was brought to a grinding ...

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

Mthatha calms after taxi protest chaos on day one of special votes (Business Day)

The Mthatha region descended into chaos on Monday with main roads blockaded and trucks looted. Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane said on Monday afternoon that ...

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Image courtesy of "POWER 98.7"

Services restored in Mthatha following taxi strike - POWER 98.7 (POWER 98.7)

Traffic is moving smoothly again after unrest involving taxis shut down the CBD and nearby areas on Monday. Law enforcement, including the SANDF, is monitoring ...

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