With just one day remaining before the much anticipated election day, the town of Mthatha has been shutdown.
This follows after the Eastern Cape Transport Department urged motorists travelling to Mthatha to either delay their travel or avoid the town completely as the exits were blocked by protesting taxi operators.
According to News24, the announcement follows after a video recording calling for a complete shutdown of Mthatha and a stop to election campaigns in and around the town less than 48 hours before election day. Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha said the call came after police confiscated pistols and assault rifles following the resurgence of taxi violence in the Mthatha, Tsolo and Nqanqarhu areas.
A video shared by X user @Abramjee shows a situation in Mthatha where trucks are being looted.
After seeing the post, X users didn’t mince their words as they voiced out their concerned.
Trucks being looted: Umtata, Eastern Cape.#CrimeWatch pic.twitter.com/xIKQOiW9Vz
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) May 27, 2024
One user said:
Andiyaz this battle field Mthatha has become. Its 3 days to elections we cannot even leave our houses, because the taxi drivers wants their guns. @IECSouthAfrica @OscarMabuyane @SAPoliceService How I wish we had General Mkhwanazi here!
— 𝙽𝚚𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚚𝚊 𝚠𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚊 (@Sihle_Congo) May 27, 2024
Another user said:
@CyrilRamaphosa Mthatha taxi driver are saying we won’t vote if @SAPoliceService doesn’t give them back their guns #FamilyMeeting as we speak all roads are closed we are in danger, we can’t even go buy bread @Bhekicele2018 wathula these days?
— Jade🕯️🖤 (@MsDaizy1) May 27, 2024
All roads are closed. The airport staff have been dismissed. Shops are closed. The town is literally on lockdown.
— Changamire_Dombo (@mvula13) May 27, 2024
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