Cape Town protesters block busy road, demanding services

Families from the “Gate 7” informal settlement outside the Maitland Cemetery blocked Voortrekker Road in Cape Town on Wednesday morning. They want the City of Cape Town to install water, electricity and toilets. Photos: Ashraf Hendricks

22 May 2024 | By Ashraf Hendricks

About 40 protesters from the “Gate 7” informal settlement outside the Maitland Cemetery blocked busy Voortrekker Road in Cape Town with burning branches, mattresses, rocks and a container early on Wednesday morning.

Protesters are demanding basic services including water, toilets and electricity. When GroundUp arrived around sunrise, fire trucks were dousing flames and metro police were patrolling the area. Across a large container in the middle of the road, protesters had sprayed “30 years without basic services”…
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