Beaten and battered but not broken — March for Change attack victim speaks about his ordeal

A truly inspirational and memorable march for Wychwood resident Kade Guerreiro (25), on Friday, turned ugly after he was attacked by a number of ANC supporters after the event.

Guerreiro, a member of the DA, was excited to be part of the DA’s March for Change, which saw over 20 000 people marching through the Johannesburg CBD, in opposition to President Jacob Zuma.

Dressed in a DA T-shirt and with a DA flag wrapped around him, Guerreiro attended the march with his fiancé, Renier Holmes.

“The march was absolutely fantastic; there was an amazing atmosphere and it was truly a march for change with people at one point all taking hands in unity,” he said.

“People from all walks of life and different political affiliations came together.”

Guerreiro and Holmes left the march feeling positive and began to make their way back to their vehicle which was parked in the parkade at the Johannesburg Supreme Court.

The local antique dealer told the GCN he was feeling relaxed and safe.

(Video taken from YouTube by Oliver Meth)

“We had been told not to walk close to Luthuli House so we didn’t; we weren’t looking for trouble,” he said.

“We were about two blocks away from Luthuli House, in Albertina Sisulu Road, when suddenly someone screamed ‘run, run’.

“Turning around, we saw people running towards us and we started to run.

“Bricks and bottles were flying around us and at that point we got separated.

“I found out afterwards that luckily the police had rescued Renier.”

(Video taken from YouTube by Mikey TV)

Guerreiro said something hit his head and he fell down.

“I couldn’t see as the first thing someone did was take my glasses.

“I was crouched on the ground trying to protect my face and they were kicking and hitting me and hitting me with branches.

“To be honest, I thought this was the end.

“It’s one thing to watch something like this on TV or hear about it, but when it is happening to you it’s another story altogether.

“I was also concerned about what was happening to my partner,” Guerreiro said.

The police intervened and Guerreiro was helped by an ANC supporter into a police van.

Guerreiro said that during the attack he thinks he passed out a number of times but remembers people were all around the van, hitting the windows.

“It seemed as if they wanted to get my flag and T-shirt off me as they ripped them,” he said.

Guerreiro was taken to Milpark Hospital for treatment for the injuries he sustained in the attack.

He had to have four staples put in his head, he has a bruised abdomen and many scratches and welts from the branches.

“It cost me about R10 000 for my medical care, including the replacement of my spectacles,” he said.

(Video taken from YouTube by Rebecca Mogalagadi)

On Monday, helped by Ward 36 councillor Wendy Morgan and Paul Willemburg, MPL, DA constituency head: Germiston, he opened a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm against his attackers.

The attack, however, has not deterred Guerreiro from attending more marches and he will be attending the march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria tomorrow (Wednesday, April 12).

“I will be there in my DA T-shirt and taking a stand,” he said.

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