Scenes of unrest have broken out near the Kgosi Mampuru correctional facility in Pretoria Central, on Thursday morning.
Kgosi Mampuru protest: Who’s behind the unrest?
Videos and images have surfaced online showing a number of key routes blockaded by burning tyres and rubble.
At this time, no official statement has been released by those responsible for the unrest in the central region of South Africa’s capital.
Eyewitnesses on the scene took to social media to claim that taxis have also been targeted by protesters and pelted with rocks.
Despite our attempts to get comment from Pretoria authorities, we were unable to receive more information on the protest at the time this article was published.
This means that for now, we are unaware if any injuries were sustained by passers-by and motorists at the scene of the violent protests.
One user took to Twitter to claim that prisoners were allegedly behind the unrest. However, we could not verify this claim.
Prisoners are striking at Kgosi Mampuru they closed the road with burning tires
— Zandile Excel (@ZandileExcel) September 30, 2021
Salvakop PTA. Find alternative routes. @Vusi_Dhlozi hope you've covered this pic.twitter.com/DwT2NVC3WM
— Ntomb'Nkulu kaMaQhoboza (Inyoni yamanzi) (@lady_ban) September 30, 2021
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— Legally Accurate (@billsofcost) September 30, 2021
Thursday, 30 Sept 2021: 05:34:
Violence at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional facility in Kgosi Mampuru (Potgieter St), Pretoria. Nearest corner Klawer st. Road barricaded with rocks. According to reports, taxi's are being thrown with stones. Use alternative route! Avoid the area! pic.twitter.com/sirPxGxWAR
Road closures on Thursday 30 September 2021
From what we understand, local authorities are at the scene of the protest monitoring the situation and looking for ways to reopen the roads.
While reports from Thursday morning indicated that Kgosi Mampuru Street was closed off this morning, latest updates from renowned reporter @TrafficSA indicate that the road has been reopened.
Motorists are still advised to practice extreme caution when driving on these streets:
- Fountains roundabout near CBD and Sunnyside
- Roger Dyson Road
Motorists and commuters are advised to use Nelson Mandela Drive as an alternative to get around the area near Kgosi Mampuru prison.
