A protest by residents has caused major traffic disruptions in Pennyville near New Canada in Soweto. Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has been deployed to monitor the situation.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla says the community is demonstrating against alleged planned evictions in the area.

He says protesters have barricaded New Canada Road and pelted passing vehicles with stones, forcing traffic to be diverted to alternative routes.

Fihla says, “The situation is currently calm, and officers are deployed to monitor the protest and divert vehicles away from the closure. N17 is closed between Orlando and Soweto, and the N1 on-ramp. There are also closures on the New Canada road from Marula Drive towards Main Reef Road. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes such as  Main Reef and Nasrec Road.”