More than six thousand protesters marched from Thembalethu to the George Municipality to hand over a grievance memorandum to George Mayor Charles Standers.
Police fired smoke stun grenades twice to bring the crowd under control. Marchers from other areas including Pacaltsdorp joined the Thembalethu procession along the way, swelling the size of the crowd to stretch down York Street as far as the eye could see. A huge portion of York Street was barricaded off with barbed wire to prevent the crowd from going further than the municipality on the corner of St. John's and Market Streets.
A strong police and municipal police presence was maintained throughout the march. Dangerous weapons including knobkierries, sticks and other sharp objects were confiscated.
Under the leadership of one of the organisers, Mervin Olivier, the marchers threatened to make George ungovernable if the authorities neglected to adhere to their demands within the next two weeks. These demands include 'better service delivery', the immediate cessation of the 'witch hunt' being carried out on ANC councillors' and the retraction of the new proposed bylaw that aims to shorten drinking hours at taverns and bars drastically within the municipal borders.
One of the protestors, Thembelani Mayekiso (24) from Zone 6 said they (the young people of Thembalethu) are frustrated and without hope, as they face an uncertain future. "They tell us to get a good education, like I did, but we still can’t find jobs. It is like we are only good enough to pick up papers in the roads and do construction work," he said. This frustration, he says causes desperate people to become involved in crime, drugs and everything that is wrong. He has a degree in marketing from the University of the Western Cape and currently works as an operator at a local shop where he earns R67 per day.
"If the people can’t find work, where will they find money to buy electricity, pay for water not to mention put food on the table?"
At 12:15 Mayor Standers accepted the memorandum across a wire barrier as police would not allow him to enter the crowd, fearing for his safety. Standers at one stage became visibly angry and upset as the protesters tried to convince him to move in amongst them to receive the memo.
Accepting the written grievances he said the various departments and the council will get back to the ANC leadership later. The crowd was not satisfied with his short speech, but dispersed after about 10 minutes. Isolated incidents of vandalism and intimidation have been reported including the smashing of shop and car windows.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning many commuters on their way to work were also told in no uncertain terms to stay away from work and prevented from continuing on their way. Groups of protesters numbering about 200 went into the residential areas of Thembalethu to 'convince' residents to take part in the march.
At the time of going to press no one had been arrested.
The taxi service to and from town was also severely affected as the taxi association, Uncedo also took part in the protest.
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* Meer as 6000 ANC-lede en ander optoggangers het aan gister se diensleweringoptog van Thembalethu na die George-munisipaliteit deelgeneem. Op twee geleenthede moes die polisie skokgranate gooi om die skare onder beheer te bring. By die George-munisipaliteit is 'n memorandum met griewe aan die uitvoerende burgemeester, Charles Standers oorhandig.
At the George Municipality the crowd danced and sang for nearly an hour before handing over their grievance memorandum. Photo: Christo Vermaak
ARTICLE: CHRISTO VERMAAK, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
