LENASIA, Gauteng — Severe Lenasia protest road closures have triggered major traffic disruptions south of Johannesburg, with the N12 freeway completely shut down in both directions. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has issued urgent warnings to motorists as volatile service delivery demonstrations continue to impact the region’s main arterial routes.
The N12 Freeway has been closed completely in both directions between the K43, also known as Klipspruit Valley Road, and Abubakar Asvat Drive. The blockades are situated between Lenasia and Soweto, adjacent to the Avalon cemetery.
In addition to the N12, the K43 has been closed between Club Street West and Trade Route Mall in Lenasia. Abubakar Asvat Drive is also currently shut down, though traffic officers are actively working to reopen the route.
Superintendent Xolani Fihla, spokesperson for the JMPD, confirmed the extent of the disruptions and provided context regarding the demonstrators. The protests are being driven by residents of the Nanos Farm informal settlement.
According to Superintendent Fihla, residents of Nanos Farm closed off the freeway at this exact time last week to protest service delivery issues, specifically regarding water and electricity. While the JMPD cannot officially confirm the exact demands for the current demonstration, they suspect it is related to the same unresolved service delivery grievances.
The situation on the ground remains tense and volatile. Superintendent Fihla noted that the JMPD has received reports of one of their vehicles being stoned by protesters, prompting authorities to urge all motorists traveling in the area to exercise extreme caution.
**Alternative Routes and Traffic Congestion**
With major highways blocked, commuters are being forced onto alternative routes, leading to significant congestion. Superintendent Fihla advised motorists to utilize the following detours:
- The R554 through Lenasia
- Golden Highway
- Chris Hani Road, coming out of Soweto and traveling through the Eldorado Park area
- Main Road
However, the alternative routes are experiencing heavy delays. Motorists leaving the Protea Glen area are facing severe backups because Main Road is blocked where it meets Soweto.
To navigate around this bottleneck, the JMPD is specifically advising residents from Protea Glen to divert through the Protea North area to catch Chris Hani Road before merging back onto their intended routes.
Authorities are urging all merchants and daily commuters to avoid the Lenasia area entirely if possible and to plan for significant delays on all surrounding arterial routes while the protest action continues.
