Black smoke billowed across morning and evening rush-hour traffic as angry Freedom Farm informal settlement residents blocked Robert Sobukwe and 35th Street intersection with burning tyres yesterday.
This forced motorists to find alternative routes to work.
Last night the shack dwellers continued their protest, frustrating drivers who were stuck in the slow-moving traffic.
The shack dwellers were protesting over the lack of housing opportunities for them, and demanding the government build low-cost houses in the area which is located next to Cape Town International Airport.
Protesters blocking the road only dispersed after police fired at them with rubber bullets.
Traffic officials closed Robert Sobukwe Drive in both directions between De La Rey and Borcherds Quarry roads because of the violence resulting from the protest.
The residents, who refused to provide their names for fear of reprisals, said they decided to protest because their demands had fallen on deaf ears and violent protesting was the only language the government understood.
They said they had been waiting for houses to be built for years but were provided with empty promises.
Protesters said they would continue their action until the “government” listened to them.
“We are not going to stop until our voices are heard. We are fed up with empty promises.
“We’re doing this (burning tyres) because we want to be heard and attended to by the government,” said one shack dweller.
Motorist Willem Oosthuizen said he waited for the road to be cleared for almost two hours.
“I could not turn back and find an alternative route because there were lots of cars behind me. I am stuck and I am also late for work,” said one driver.
Traffic services spokesperson Maxine Bezuidenhout said all the traffic lights at the intersection were damaged.
She said officers were busy doing point duty to ensure traffic flows.