Armed members of a police special task force entered a Cape Town city centre shop on Wednesday as a hostage situation unfolded.

The city centre was brought to a standstill as traffic was diverted and people barred from the vicinity where robbers stormed into Cash Crusaders on the corner of Long and Strand streets.

A tweet from an onlooker appeared to show one of the hostage-takers being arrested. Police spokeswoman Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said that she would provide full details soon.

 It was unclear how many people were being held hostage. A witness  said some hostages had been freed while others remained inside.

Sheldon Cameron tweeted: “Avoid Strand Street in Cape Town‚ there is currently a robbery and hostage situation underway at Cash Crusaders”

 

Avoid Strand Street in Cape Town, there is currently a robbery and hostage situation underway at Cash Crusaders. #sabcnewspic.twitter.com/rk5f9X49qh

— Sheldon Cameron (@Sheldon_Cameron) July 5, 2017

<p =""> </p><p ="">Tina tweeted: “Word is Cash Crusaders‚#StrandStreet #CapeTown..Police telling robbers to come out with hands up.#CrimeMustFall”</p><p =""> </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" =""><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Word is Cash Crusaders,<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StrandStreet?src=hash">#StrandStreet</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CapeTown?src=hash">#CapeTown</a>..Police telling robbers to come out with hands up.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CrimeMustFall?src=hash">#CrimeMustFall</a><a href="https://t.co/bUCsrhOJpb">pic.twitter.com/bUCsrhOJpb</a></p> — Tina (@missTina277) <a href="https://twitter.com/missTina277/status/882541645555802112">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote><script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" ="" /><p =""> </p><p ="">Nthabi Selemale tweeted: “If u in Cape Town CBD travel with caution in Strand Street. Robbery in progress at Cash Crusaders with reports of hostage stand off”</p><p =""> </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en" =""><p dir="ltr" lang="en">If u in Cape Town CBD travel with caution in Strand Street. Robbery in progress at Cash Crusaders with reports of hostage stand off.</p> — Nthabi selemale (@The_RealNthabi) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_RealNthabi/status/882564070016258048">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote><script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" ="" /><p =""> </p><p ="">Jolandi tweeted: “All’s well that ends well! Well done to the #sapd and #adt! #cashcrusaders #holdup #capetown”</p><p =""> </p><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en" =""><p dir="ltr" lang="en">All's well that ends well! Well done to the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sapd?src=hash">#sapd</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adt?src=hash">#adt</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cashcrusaders?src=hash">#cashcrusaders</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/holdup?src=hash">#holdup</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/capetown?src=hash">#capetown</a><a href="https://t.co/FjL6OTj1iG">pic.twitter.com/FjL6OTj1iG</a></p>— Jolandi (@jolandim) <a href="https://twitter.com/jolandim/status/882557653129580544">July 5, 2017</a></blockquote><script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" ="" /><p =""> </p><p =""> </p>