Police Reopen N12 Freeway After Lenasia Service Protests

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and the South African Police Service reopened the N12 freeway near Lenasia and Nana’s Farm on Monday following major traffic disruptions. Protesters blocked the freeway in both directions, along with Abubakar Asvat Drive and Klipspruit Valley Road, using rocks, debris, and burnt obstructions to demand improvements in service delivery.

Joint operations between municipal and national police forces dispersed the crowds and cleared the road obstructions. While the freeway is in the final stages of reopening, authorities warned that the situation remains tense. Xolani Fihla, a spokesperson for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department, stated that significant progress had been made to stabilize the area and restore mobility.

Motorists were advised to exercise extreme caution and expect heavy congestion on secondary routes, including the Golden Highway and Nirvana Drive, as residual traffic backlogs clear.