Eastern Cape Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, has condemned the closure of strategic entry points into the Mthatha CBD.
This, after a group of people, started burning tyres and closing off the N2 from the town towards Tsolo on Friday.
Department spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie, said that (by mid-morning) police had diffused the situation.
"Law enforcement officers will continue to be on high alert to ensure that the situation is under control. We are also appealing to motorists to be vigilant as we have received reports that there are plans to close other areas in and around Mthatha," she said.
Rantjie said no one had been arrested but said police were busy with their investigation into the matter.
Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Swart, assured residents that police were committed to ensuring that everyone in the affected area is safe.
"The protection of our citizens and their property is of utmost importance and we will undertake this task with vehemence. Our mandate also extends to protecting our law enforcement officials as well as the property of the State,” he said.
East London businessman Pieter Fahd, told Algoa FM news that he was able to get through Mthatha moments after protesters started setting up tyres to burn on the N2, about 10 kilometres outside town on the East London side.
"In Mthatha itself, there is a lot of police activity, sirens going constantly. But, apparently, the big showdown is going to happen over the weekend going through to Monday," he said.
Fahd said the protest is "taxi-related" with the taxi associations wanting the public to fight with them "because they are all suffering now".
The protest comes in the wake of the suspension of taxi operations and the closure of public transport facilities including taxi ranks by Police Minister, Bheki Cele and Eastern Cape police management last month.
Cele's decision came in a bid to stem the number of deaths from ongoing taxi violence which had already left 60 people dead since it flared up in 2016.
Recently the Eastern Cape Department of Transport relaxed some of the restrictions imposed on taxi operators to allow for the transportation of children when schools reopened.
