Part of one of Joburg's major roads, Jan Smuts Avenue, will be closed from 9am until about midday on Tuesday for a protest march, metro police said.
About 15 000 people were expected to march from Zoo Lake in Parkview to the Goodman Gallery in Rosebank, spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Monday.
The road will be closed between Zoo Lake and Bolton Road in Rosebank.
Marchers would be bussed to the Zoo Lake. The march was expected to start at 10am.
The march is being organised by the ANC and its affiliates to protest against the “The Spear”, a painting by Brett Murray, that, until it was defaced on Tuesday, depicted President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed.
The painting was part of Murray's “Hail to the Thief II” exhibition that is currently running at the gallery.
The work unleashed a storm of protest and condemnation.
Minnaar appealed to motorists to use Oxford Avenue as an alternative route.
“There will be a very heavy police presence,” he said.
Three representatives from the march organisers would be allowed to leave the main group and approach the Goodman Gallery from a suburban side street to hand over a memorandum.
“The main march will not be permitted to leave Jan Smuts Avenue,” he said.
The DA issued a statement warning business owners and traders to arrive at work early and not to try and move around or expect clients.
DA ward councillor, Tim Truluck, said the day would require understanding and was a “work in progress”.
“The JMPD/SAPS will be involved from the city's side. There will also be 5000 green-clad ANC, red-clad Cosatu and uniformed Umkhonto (we Sizwe) marshals.” – Sapa