Smoke billowed from the local traffic department offices as violent service delivery protests over housing erupted on Tuesday in the town of Grabouw.

A few hundred residents from the apple-producing town‚ about 70km from Cape Town‚ were demanding land and municipal services.

Theewaterskloof municipality spokesperson Stiffie Cronje confirmed that the traffic department building had been damaged.

 Computers and other removable goods were vandalised.

“Traffic services are not functioning. We cannot do registrations‚ testing or issue drivers’ licences‚” he said.

The City of Cape Town warned motorists that the N2 highway had been closed between Sir Lowry’s Pass Road and Houw Hoek Pass.

 Protesters used tree trunks and rocks to block the road.

eNCA journalist Athi Mtongana posted images on Twitter of the blaze.

Activist and Ses’khone People’s Rights Movement leader Andile Lili‚ addressed protesters.

“Never allow any metro police or SAPS members to remove your shelters there‚” he told a large crowd.

 “For you to build those shacks there‚ it cost a lot of money… Therefore you must defend them‚” he said in a clip Tweeted by Mtongana.

Some residents had occupied vacant land — the ownership of which is unclear — near to the traffic department and erected informal homes.

 Some of those structures were demolished by authorities.