Protest denounces racism in George

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GEORGE NEWS - Thousands of Thembalethu residents walked to work on Friday 17 November as a group of protesters gathered at Four Way traffic lights in Thembalethu for a legal march to the George CBD.

Contrary to the protest action a month ago which spiralled out of control, Friday's protest march was peaceful.

A resident who left her home at 05:00 told the George Herald, "I support the march, but I can't afford to lose another day's wages so close to Christmas. There are no taxis running so I decided to walk." A group of about 120 marchers and 10 taxis under the banner of the newly launched Thembalethu Community Forum, led by Thembalethu clergy, left the area at 08:30 and moved to the CBD at a snail's pace.

Racism
Deputy convenor, former George councillor Castro Leholo, handed over the first of four memorandums with demands to George Mayor Melvin Naik on the steps of the Civic Centre. Leholo warned the mayor that if Council doesn't deal with racism in George, the residents of Thembalethu will. "We will not be called baboons, we will react and it will not be pleasant."

Leholo was referring to a comment on the social media platform, Georgiete Staan Saam, in which Anne-Marie Park-Robinson's two-word message "Pure BOBBEJANE" led to her being reported to the South African Human Rights Commission by a fellow George resident, Valesca Erlank.

"This is George's own Penny Sparrow," said Leholo.

Housing
In the memorandum, the Thembalethu Community Forum demanded that all outstanding housing developments be speedily expedited and that land closer to work places be identified for integrated housing.

Castro Leholo lashing out against racism.

Policing
At the George police station the forum demanded the placement of a satellite police station in Asazani, the area at the back of Thembalethu, as well as additional personnel and vehicles for the Thembalethu police station.

Schooling
The severe shortage of adequate school facilities was addressed at the education department and additional, better equipped schools were demanded.

GO GEORGE
The forum asked the department of transport to convene a meeting with the taxi industry so that the current GO GEORGE stalemate can be addressed once and for all for the benefit of the commuters.

The march ended at 13:30 and the protesters were ferried back home in taxis.

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