The City of Cape Town reported that protests had erupted in Khayelitsha up to Somerset West near Sir Lowry's Village on Thursday, with reports of looting and stoning of vehicles.

The City of Cape Town’s director of safety and security, Richard Bosman, said the N2 in both directions between Sir Lowry's Pass Road and Somerset Main road has been closed. Sir Lowry's Pass Village has also been closed.

He said the whole area remained very volatile, "with large groups moving around, stoning vehicles and looting private shops". 

By midday, Khayelitsha had quietened down and all roads except for Mew Way between Spine Road and Mfundiswen Road, were open.

Western Cape police have reported that eight people were arrested by Public Order Police (POPS) and other law enforcement agencies who were policing the protests in the Lwandle area in Strand.

Over 1,000 Lwandle community members reportedly participated in the service delivery protest and looting of businesses has been reported. In Khayelitsha, protestors were burning tyres in the Harare and Lingelethu policing precincts. No arrests made have been made, according to police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana.

There has been a voice note doing the rounds on social media platforms warning residents to get out of Cape Town and surrounding areas and to find their way home before 3pm on Thursday afternoon as all the roads around the Cape Metro would be blocked during a complete shutdown. However, city authorities rejected the voice note as a hoax.

African News Agency (ANA)