Chaos brought leading Durban thoroughfares to a standstill when service delivery protests disrupted traffic along the N2 northbound in the vicinity of Cato Manor.
Mercury online reported that Ridgeview Road between the M7 and Spaghetti Junction “had to be temporarily closed” after “protesters burned tyres, stoned vehicles, and blockaded the road”.
Rocks, chairs, sofas, and other items were strewn across the road and a bus stood ablaze as authorities battled to control the unrest fuelled by some 70 protesters.
As midday approached and the traffic backed up, Durban Metro Police spokesman senior superintendent Parboo Sewpersad pleaded with people to avoid travelling on any of the affected roads.
“Motorists are urged to stay away from the M7 altogether and to use alternative routes until the road completely clears,” he said.
The unrest appears to have spilled over from earlier protest action that sowed chaos in Sydenham along Randles Road.
Burning tyres and rubbish barricaded the neighbourhood in the early morning unrest that, according to reports, also included Sparks Road and the area around Shifa Hospital.
Police said no one had been injured in the unrest.
