Protest march a 'platform for dialogue'

GEORGE NEWS - The George CBD is expected to come to a standstill tomorrow when a protest march from Thembalethu will snake its way down Nelson Mandela Boulevard into York Street and back along Courtenay Street.

The marchers are expected to gather at the Four Way stop traffic light intersection in Thembalethu from 07:00 and proceed to the CBD at 08:30.

Addressing the media at the Uncedo offices at the Thembalethu taxi rank on Tuesday 14 November, deputy convenor and former George councillor Castro Leholo said, "The Thembalethu Community Forum is a broad based forum that was formed as a result of the violent protest actions that took place on Friday 13 October."

A diverse range of concerns will be raised and the leaders of the march are expected to hand over memorandums at the George Municipality in York Street, followed by the George Magistrate's Court at the top of York Street, around the corner to the George police station and then down Courtenay Street to Rentzburg Hof, where memorandums will be given to officials from the Western Cape Department of Education and Transport.

Addressing the media. Front, from left: Mervin Olivier (ANC secretary for the George sub-region), Castro Leholo (deputy convenor), Guildford Sihoyiya (Thembalethu Community Police Forum), David Magwebu (PRO of Uncedo). Back: Welele Mbudede (chairperson of Uncedo), Langa Langa (ANC chairperson of the George sub-region), Khahlule Vuyani (secretary of Uncedo), Nkuleko Radebe (ANC Youth League) and Putise Thom (deputy chair of Uncedo). Photos: Michelle Pienaar

Leholo said, "We are hoping that the various government institutions at local, provincial and national level will create a platform for dialogue with the community of Thembalethu so as to find amicable and lasting solutions for our matters.

"We have adopted the motto 'nothing about us without us'. We will act if the municipality thrusts solutions down on us."