EFF march to cause disruptions
JOBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are due to embark on an economic freedom march on the morning of 27 October. There will be knock-on effects in and around the eastern end of Ward 117's northern suburbs as well as Sandton and the Johannesburg CBD.
“The major north-south spine of Oxford and Rivonia roads with the Sandton CBD, will also be affected by the march,” indicated Ward 117 councillor, Tim Truluck.
Truluck sent out a newsletter earlier this month to residents in his ward to warn them that the march may cause disruptions.
His newsletter read as follows:
“It’s funny how little things change. Julius and the ANCYL marched the same route back on 27 October 2011. Even the date is the same.
“Below is the announcement I posted in my newsletters at the time. I have merely substituted EFF for ANCYL and updated the dates.
“Please be aware of the likely of disruption and also please ensure that properties and businesses along the route are warned of the march so that they are prepared to either stay inside or stay away from the area.
“The EFF protest march will take place on Tuesday 27 October. A group of 5 000 to 10 000 people will gather at Mary Fitzgerald Square in the Johannesburg CBD. They will march to the Chamber of Mines and hand over a memorandum at 10am. The protesters will then proceed to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange from the Chamber of Mines to Sandton Central via Oxford and Rivonia Roads and into Sandton where a memorandum will be handed over at 2pm. It is suggested that businesses situated along the marching route consider sending their staff home early and not to schedule meetings in the afternoon that need to be attended by visitors.”
His comments from 2011:
- The [EFF] are not known for punctuality. So I expect that the petition will be presented later than 10am [it was, at about 11am]
- I have measured the route from the CBD and it is about 6 km from town to the Ettrick/Waltham Road intersections with Oxford Rd. Assuming that the march moves at 4 to 5 km/hr, this means that they should be arriving about 90 minutes after they leave the Chamber of Mines. If they are running late, probably around noon
- It is another 4 km to Rosebank, so they should reach there about 1pm
- Large crowds take quite a while to move through, so assume that the roads will be disrupted for about two hours from just before they arrive, to just after they pass by
- It is hot, so the crowd will start to wilt around the Saxonwold and Rosebank area. This means that there will be stragglers – some will get picked up in the hospital buses and some may try and bunk off. This could result in problems, especially along side streets
- Remember it will be lunch time when they are in the Saxonwold/Rosebank area. Either food will be provided, or it will be sourced en route. This too could lead to problems – congestion at food vendors. There may well be littering along the route and I hope that portable toilets will be provided
- It will be hot, but there is also rain forecast. If it rains, there will also probably be many dropouts from the march. Again this may lead to problems in the side streets and with businesses
- I think that violence/vandalism type problems won’t occur due to the strong police presence.
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