Pretoria – Many roads in the vicinity of the Union Buildings are already closed with more expected to be closed from later today, ahead of the Inauguration of President-elect, Jacob Zuma, on Saturday.
The City of Tshwane had called on motorists to be patient with the necessary road closures and cooperate with law enforcement agencies. The road closures will be on place for security and crowd control purposes.
The city’s spokesperson Blessing Manale said those wishing to make use of the park-and-ride facilities will be transported from Tshwane Events Centre or Pretoria Art Museum to the Union Buildings by busses.
He said the city has made a number of busses available to transport people to and from the Union Buildings precinct.
Government has said it expects 20 000 members of the public to attend the inauguration.
The road closures, concentrated in the area immediately surrounding the Union Buildings, are as follows:
From 6am on Friday until 7pm on Saturday:
- Government Avenue between Edmond Street and Blackwood Street;
- Madiba Street between Zeederberg Street and Stanza Bopape Street.
From 10pm today until 7pm tomorrow:
- Edmond Street between Hamilton Street and Government Avenue;
- Madiba Street between Hamilton and Zeederberg streets;
- Zeederberg Street between Stanza Bopape and Madiba streets;
- Government Avenue between Blackwood and Dumbarton streets;
- Blackwood Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- Pine Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- Beckett Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- East Avenue between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- Eastwood Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Tom Jenkins Drive;
- Lisdogan Avenue between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- Balmoral Avenue between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- Dumbarton Street between Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue;
- Tom Jenkins Drive between Russell Eastwood streets;
From 12am until 7pm on 24 May 2014:
- Hamilton Street between Soutpansberg Road and Pretorius Street;
- Stanza Bopape Street between Steve Biko and Jan Shoba streets;
- Madiba Street between Steve Biko and Hamilton streets;
- Edmond Street between Steve Biko and Hamilton streets;
- Leyds Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
- Johan Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
- Beckett Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
- Eastwood Street between Pretorius and Stanza Bopape streets;
- Wessels Street between Frances Baard and Park streets.
Residents living in affected streets are asked to choose the shortest route or closest entry and exit points for access because Stanza Bopape Street and Government Avenue will be a traffic-free zone.
Normal bus routes and public transport routes will be diverted as well on 24 May 2014. – SAnews.gov.za
