Johannesburg highways disrupted by metered taxi protest, Uber cars torched

Traffic along Gauteng’s R24 route was brought to a standstill this morning, after metered taxi drivers parked their cars on the road in protest.

The R24 and R21 are two of Johannesburg and the East Rand’s most important routes, linking key Johannesburg suburbs with OR Tambo International Airport.

This morning from as early as 6am however, the roads were barely accessible.

#TaxiProtest and #HighwayProtest began trending on Twitter across Gauteng Friday morning, as users tweeted pictures of the blockage, and information channels reported on the incident.

According to police, two Uber cars were also set alight. This also comes after a spike in violence against Uber passengers in Gauteng.

JHB – ⚠️Airport Traffic ⚠️  R24 Route: ROAD CLOSED at Barbara Road (both ways) – use N12 / R21 via Boksburg to avoid delays @ortambo_int

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) October 27, 2017

@TrafficSA it’s a mess out here #TruckStrike pic.twitter.com/xb7IyAd03A

— Velene Peters (@VelenePeters) October 27, 2017

JHB – #TaxiProtest R24 Highway near the Airport – traffic remains backed-up both sides @ortambo_int pic.twitter.com/0FoIz8rt5B

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) October 27, 2017

JHB – #TaxiProtest R24 East: HEAVY DELAYS towards @ortambo_int: ALLOW ++ XTRA time or use N12 E / R21 N via Boksburg pic.twitter.com/y4QdOqsXEr

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) October 27, 2017

More than 30 metered taxi drivers were arrested for their involvement in the blockade.

Enough! No more talk.
Joint Intervention SAPS + GTP Shake Down Drivers who caused blockade R24 earlier. Open 06:45 Keys recovered
Tx Team. pic.twitter.com/QDGjBTdpPt

— GTP_Traffstats (@GTP_Traffstats) October 27, 2017

While the R24 and R21 are now open, traffic backlogs remain.

There have also been fresh reports of a taxi protest in Mpumalanga.

Mbombela – RT @ThandoSipuye #TaxiProtest Road closed in Mpumalanga can’t enter the University #taxistrike @TrafficSA pic.twitter.com/yPdL2cBfa4

— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) October 27, 2017

It’s not clear why metered taxi drivers engaged in the protest action.