City considers its options following disorderly Ses'Khona gathering

27 MARCH 2015

The City of Cape Town condemns the violence and looting that accompanied the march by the Ses'Khona People's Rights Movement in the Cape Town CBD on Thursday 26 March 2015. The City isassessing whether there was any damage to public infrastructure and will pursue civil court action to recover these damages from the organisers.

The march, for which permission was granted after the organisers guaranteed that the gathering would be peaceful, proceeded in an orderly manner until the conclusion when a small number of participants ran through St George's Mall, overturning bins and flower-pots, interfering with members of the public, and looting the stalls of several informal traders.

The South African Police Service was able to lead the group back to Adderley Street and they were then escorted to the Cape Town train station where some turnstiles were damaged as well as the window of a large retailer.

The City is also considering what role we can play to assist the victims of looting and to ensure that such incidents are prevented from ever happening again. 

We therefore invite anyone who has visual evidence identifying the culprits to submit this to the office of the Executive Mayor. Anyone who suffered damages or financial losses as a result of the actions of the protestors is also invited to provide proof of the damages and accompanying statements of the events as they unfolded.

We will be reviewing comments made in the media on the eve of the gathering by one of the organisers, pertaining to threats of violence.

The City respects and supports the right of organisations to march or stage protest action, provided this is done in a lawful and orderly manner. However, we cannot tolerate any threats to the safety and well-being of the public at large, as witnessed - not for the first time - yesterday.

Statement issued by Alderman Ian Neilson, Executive Deputy Mayor, City of Cape Town, March 27 2015

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