UPDATE: ANC to plan another march after poor turnout
RANDBURG CBD – Most shops in Randburg CBD were not opened during the morning of 30 October.
Ward 102 African National Congress march in the Randburg CBD was cancelled on 30 October after only two hours of gathering.
Despite the protesters poor turnout it appeared that the ANC and South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in Ward 102 only applied for a gathering and not a march.
Few protesters initially gathered at the open area close to the Randburg taxi rank singing struggle songs. When they tried to march from Jan Smuts Avenue and Corner Bram Fischer Drive, police swiftly stopped them.
They then advised their leaders to follow the law and only do what they had applied for. The leaders then addressed the protesters and dispersed. Most of the shops in Randburg Square and CBD were closed in the morning.
ANC branch secretary Richard Ntjana complained that police did not allow them to march. “There are telling us that it is a gathering. We need economic transformation in this area,” he said.
He added that most tenants in the Randburg area were living in dilapidated conditions. “They are paying a lot of money to stay in those flats. There are lots of criminal activities in this area, not to mention drug dealings,” he said.
Also Read: ANC march cancelled
Ward 102 Sanco branch secretary Diens Maila admitted there was confusion and people did not understand that it was just a gathering and not a march.
“We are going to plan another protest at the end of November and we will apply for the march,” he explained.
According to him, it was a joint march between them and the South African Communist Party (SACP). “We will call Zonal branches and alliance partners to be part of the march. We want our grievances to be addressed,” added Maila.
He concluded that they would form a union to represent call-centre employees who were paid peanuts in Randburg.
“All those facing challenges that need Government intervention in the Randburg area must contact us and we will give them direction,” he concluded.
One of the protesters, Mamelo Shilembe said she was living in dire conditions in a flat and hence she joined the march.
Details: Ward 102 Sanco, 072 967 6056; Ward 102 ANC, 083 366 6056.
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