People’s Economic Forum marches against the powerful elite
The People's Economic Forum, marched through Durban today as the World Economic Forum conference is set to kick off at the ICC.
THE People’s Economic Forum marched from Durban City Hall to the International Convention Centre today, where 2000 selected business and business economic elites will be meeting for the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa this afternoon.
Related read: Durban to host World Economic Forum
According to the People’s Economic Forum, at the WEF, delegates will shape policies, negotiate trade deals and make investment decisions that benefit themselves at the expense of all citizens. “With South Africa among the most unequal countries in the world due to overwhelming power by rich elites and multinational corporations, we must support a genuine radical economic transformation which rejects corporate-centric mega-projects, pro-rich economic policies and anti-environmental deals,” said Desmond D’Sa from the Forum.
He said the People’s Economic Forum march was an opportunity for people who are opposed to state capture, corruption and looting of state resources by political and economic elites to gather.
“It is a chance to say “No!” to the Trump regime’s trampling on climate, women, Muslims, people of colour and world peace. The purpose of the march is for people, organisations, communities, movements and campaigns to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with corruption and looting in South Africa, in the rest of Africa and across the world, by self-interested and self-serving political and business elites,” said Alice Thompson from the Forum.
The march was also an opportunity for people to demonstrate against the rising poverty, inequality, food prices, cost of education, lack of water, electricity, housing, sanitation and to show their support for a government and economy that serves the needs and interests of people rather than a privileged few. “Lastly, the purpose of the march is so that we, the African people who are not invited to attend WEF on Africa and influence the policies that affect our everyday lives, to show our power and have our own meeting on the streets of Africa,” said D’Sa.
