Civic organisation marches for peace in Gaza
SANDTON - The South African National Civic Organisations (SANCO) has organised a march to the United States of America Consulate in Sandton on 12 September.
UPDATE: 12 September, 12.30pm:
While police were on stand-by outside the US Consulate in Sandton, the march ended as peacefully as it started. The memorandum was handed over by two SANCO representatives and then the protesters dispersed.
Provincial chairperson of SANCO Aubrey Nqumumalo said they would fight for the rights of the people in west Africa, Palestine and African Americans. He said when there is fighting, education is disrupted and that SANCO wanted peace so that education in these countries could progress.
Chairman of the Pan African Business Forum Iadislas Prosper Agbesi said, “We are in partnership with SANCO in solidarity for our black American brothers and for the Palestinian people. We believe that everyone deserves freedom.”
12 September, 11.30am:
By 11.30am, the whole of Sandton Drive was blocked off in anticipation of the marchers and Metro police was on-scene to oversee the march. The marchers made their way onto Sandton Drive at 11.40am.
Regional secretary of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) Atwell Kamani said, “The march that we have organised will be going to the US Consulate in support of Palestine. There has been a recent ceasefire but to us, it is enough. The people of Palestine deserve what every other country has, which is freedom and democracy.”
Protester Thabo Sadiki said, “The Americans must sanction Israel until justice for the Palestinian people has been reached.”
12 September, 11am:
The organisation raised concern about the conflict in the Gaza Strip and they demand that the USA and all G7 powers intervene in the conflict by asking Israel and Hamas to come to a resolution through dialogue.
The organisers said 23 busloads of people were on their way to George Lee Park on the morning of 12 September. They would march to the consulate on the corner of Sandton Drive and Rivonia Road.
The organisation is marching to call for, “the adoption of diplomacy, the politics of dialogue and reconciliation for resolving conflicts in Gaza”. They said the international community should push for more dialogue and peaceful negotiation as opposed to military intervention.
In a memorandum the organisation said, “The South African National Civic Organisation condemns the military interventions and attacks of the Israeli army on the people of Gaza as it is in violation with international human rights and is in violation with Palestine’s sovereignty as an independent state.”
Pathetic waste of time and energy. Obviously these guys have nothing better to do but enjoy a walk on a lovely summers day here in Jhb. I’d prefer they focus on issues here in SA first.