Pretoria CBD to be affected by massive ‘unauthorised’ Monday march

The planned Tshwane Total Shutdown strike by Inwooners Baagi Civic Movement (IBCM) started with only a few people after transportation hiccups, said the group’s spokesperson Jomo Rapolo.

However, Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the strike was not authorised, reports Pretoria East Rekord.

“The group did not meet the requirements of the security cluster, and failed to attach a letter signed by an official from The Presidency who will be receiving the memorandum,” he said.

Mahamba said if the march continues, they would keep a close eye on it and had an operational plan in place.

“Unfortunately we cannot share our operational plan,” he said.

A protester said they are not going to vote until their demands are met.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: ANC in Alexandra endorses total shutdown, lashes Mashaba

The planned march by the Inwooners Baagi Civic Movement (IBCM) was set to affect various streets in Tshwane’s city centre on Monday, reported earlier by Pretoria East Rekord.

The movement is marching due to service delivery issues, “sewer spillages, leaking water metres, increased potholes, township budget cuts”, according to its secretary general, Jomo Rapholo.

Another gripe they have is the alleged “removal of poor, deserving people from being beneficiaries of the indigent programme with no reason or communication”.

“We intend to voice our concerns on the current state of the city, with the sole purpose being to ensure our needs are acted on as soon as possible without delay,” Rapholo said.

He added that all foreign-owned tuckshops and hardware stores must close and locals be empowered to run tuckshops and hardware stores, with white business legislated to ensure they employ more locals than foreigners.

The march is expected to have about 12,000 participants, and will start at the Old Putco depot at 09:00.

Picture: Jacques Nelles

The marchers were scheduled to start marching to the Union Buildings at 10:00.

From Cowie Street, they would turn left into Struben Street and proceed to Nelson Mandela Drive, where they will turn right. From Nelson Mandela Drive they will turn left into Madiba Street and march to the Union Buildings.

The marchers will hand over the memorandum at 13:00 and the event will finish at 13:30.

“Tshwane metro police officers will be deployed to monitor the march and all affected streets,” Rapholo said.

Motorists are advised to avoid the affected streets and use alternative routes.

Meanwhile, the Tshwane ANC has released a statement distancing itself from any shutdown movements or meetings, stating that it has noted “with antipathy the manner in which people have decided to conflate issues under the banner of the ANC and try to feed into their own selfish and repugnant ambitions”.

This after a circular did the rounds on social media, fingering the ANC in the planning of the supposed shutdown in the outlying northern townships.

“We would like to categorically and unconditionally state that the ANC in the Greater Tshwane Region and in MAWIGA (Mabopane, Winterveld and Ga-Rankuwa) Zone is in no way a part of this hogwash and tomfoolery.”

They added that the messaging on the poster is of particular concern.

They also called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the source of this circular and take the necessary steps to bring the real organisers of this march to book.

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