Police threw stun grenades and made arrests as a protest by meter taxi cab drivers turned violent in Cape Town’s CBD on Thursday.

“Uber must go‚” the drivers chanted as police arrived to defuse the situation after an Uber vehicle had its windows smashed out and the driver fled to safety.

Sunday Times photographer Esa Alexander said that stun grenades were thrown to separate the drivers.

 “This afternoon close to a hundred metered taxi cars‚ allegedly from the Western Cape Metered Taxi Council‚ blocked several streets in Cape Town CBD. This was an illegal protest action‚ where an Uber driver had to escape from attacks and had to run away from his vehicle‚ badly damaged‚” said Lennit Max‚ Western Cape spokesman on Transport and Public Works.

“I call for all relevant parties to remain calm as violence will not satisfy any concerns‚ and refrain from illegal protest action. The right to protest is enshrined in our constitution‚ but it must remain within the law‚ with permission‚ and not turn violent‚” he said.

Uber spokesman Samantha Allenberg was not immediately available for comment.

The action was captured by several people on social media.

Sean Jacobs ?posted a photograph of the chaos on Twitter‚ saying: “Long Street at a standstill. “Uber must go” they say. #CapeTown #traffic #LongStreet”.

Deidre Sara Vermaak posted a photograph of a white vehicle with its windows smashed‚ saying: “Uber car smashed up #ubermustfall”.

Hlanga Jordan said‚ “Cab drivers on long street protesting that @Uber–RSA ‘must go’.”

@MyNameIsAnthea tweeted: “#UberMustFall strike happening in Cape Town. Can they leave #Uber alone please? We like Uber. We shall Uber. How about you drop your prices.”