Violence flared in early morning protests in Cape Town on Thursday with vehicles and a train torched, the Cape Argus reported.
Its website said barricades put up by protesters also caused havoc on the city’s roads, with traffic jams and closures during peak hour.
Demonstrators in a string of protests included striking security guards — despite a union promise that guards would not hold protests this week.
Traffic was stalled as authorities battled to disperse protesters and clear rubble strewn across the N2, R300, Vanguard Drive and Baden Powell Drive.
Traffic authorities reported at least three accidents along the N2, believed to have been caused by motorists trying to avoid debris, such as burning tyres, in the middle of the road. Police confirmed a truck had been set alight on Baden Powell Drive opposite Monwabisi Beach just before 5am.
A Metrorail official said a train truck was torched at Heideveld station. According to witnesses, the culprits were striking security guards.
Baden Powell Drive was closed while fire-fighters battled to extinguish the blaze.
No injuries were reported. By about 8am, police had the situation under control.
Violence erupted on Vanguard Drive opposite Samora Machel informal settlement in Langa just after 5am. Police responded quickly and were able to disperse protesters.
Fire-fighters were called in to extinguish blazing tyres and debris, and city officials cleared the road to allow the flow of peak-hour traffic to resume.
Police were not certain whether the culprits were striking security guards or people protesting about housing delivery.
In Khayelitsha, just before 6am, striking guards at the Mew Way off-ramp prevented commuters from getting to the Nolungile railway station.
Police quelled the protest.
In Johannesburg, security employers won an application in the city’s Labour Court for leave to appeal against a judgment declaring the security guard strike legal and protected.
”As a result of our success now, we will then go to the Labour Appeal Court in an attempt to declare the strike unlawful and unprotected,” said employer spokesperson Steve Friswell.
”We also want to ensure that Satawu [South African Transport and Allied Workers Union] is bound to the terms of the agreement signed by employers and 12 security sector trade unions on 1 April.”
The appeal is reportedly to be heard next Thursday.
Satawu members have been on strike since March 23. They are demanding an 11% wage increase. On April 1, the twelve other unions accepted a wage increase of 8,3%.
Friswell denied media reports that the employers had gone back to the negotiating table with Satawu.
”The matter remains the subject of ongoing litigation. We have been approached by the CCMA, who are attempting to set up exploratory talks between employers and all trade unions in an attempt to end the strike,” he said.
”This a strike which has been marred by unacceptable levels of violence.” — Sapa