Cape Town - The group that led the march that turned violent in the Cape Town’s CBD last month has warned businesses to close their doors on Friday, when they plan to march again, in spite of a refusal by the city authorities to grant them permission.
The Cape Town Informal Settlements Organisation intends to march on the Western Cape Provincial Legislature to present a memorandum to Premier Helen Zille.
Last month, the organisation led a march which was legal but ended in mayhem, with breakaway groups looting stalls and attacking traders.
After the violence, the city said it planned to sue ANC councillor Loyiso Nkohla and former ANC councillor Andile Lili – among a group that have become known as poo-fighters for dumping human waste – who it alleged led the breakaway group.
After the march, both Lili and Nkohla told the Cape Times a second march was planned for Friday.
The city has denied the group permission to march, saying it has credible evidence to show that “such a gathering could result in a serious disruption to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, injury to persons and possible damage to property”.
But on Monday, Cape Town Informal Settlements spokesman Sithembele Majoba said this would not stop them.
“There will be no cancellation at all. Whether it’s legal or not, we will march,” he said.
He said they would again wait for Zille to address them.
The march would start at 10am at the Grand Parade and the group would make its way to the legislature.
He said at least 50 000 residents from areas including Gugulethu, Strand, Delft, Mfuleni and Khayelitsha were expected. “We’re encouraging all shops and businesses to close. It’s going to be massive.”
“With the last strike there were opportunistic criminals in the CBD who started the looting and were then joined by our people. We want businesses to be watchful, but as the organisation we will try to ensure that there will be no looting or violence,” Majoba said.
He called on Zille to accept the memorandum from protesters. “During the last strike, she refused to accept the memorandum and that just fuelled the anger of the protesters. Government should stop sidelining poor people like this.”
Some street vendors and shopowners who had their stores damaged said they would open, but others said they would not take the risk.
Mahamad Ahmad Farah, a vendor in St George’s Mall who was injured, said: “They took all my stuff and I lost R25 000. I will open my stand on Friday because I’m trying to recover the money I lost.”
Bag It store manager Frank Agbuba said he would not risk opening as he had spent R40 000 to repair broken windows. “I am too afraid to open because my future profit is gone.”
Mavuyi Noyila, who sells sculptures and accessories, said: “If they take my stuff again, I will deal with them. This is my business and it’s my children’s bread. If I don’t sell, and close, my kids will not eat.”
City media manager Priya Reddy said after consulting with police and the march’s convener, the application for Friday’s gathering had been turned down.
On Monday, police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said: “There will be sufficient law enforcement deployed to deal with any kind of marches.”
caryn.dolley@inl.co.za
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