The City of Cape Town has been granted an eleventh-hour court interdict preventing a planned march in the CBD.
|||Johannesburg -
The City of Cape Town obtained a court interdict on Thursday preventing the city's informal settlements' organisation from holding a march, said mayor Patricia de Lille.
The march was scheduled to take place on Friday.
“I appeal to the organisers of the illegal protest to respect the court interdict,” said De Lille.
She said the order was obtained as a last resort, as she did not want to see a repetition of the disorder last month, when protesters claiming to be part of a service delivery demonstration looted shops and vendors' stalls, and damaged property in central Cape Town.
“One of the senior leaders of the group and ANC councillor in the City of Cape Town Loyiso Nkohla is quoted in today's media reports saying... ‘We will only stop the march if a court of law says so’,” said De Lille.
“Now that the court has spoken, I hope that Nkohla and his colleagues will no longer continue with their plans, as this would be a blatant disregard of the rule of law.”
She said the group's application to march was not approved because of evidence indicating that it could disrupt vehicular and pedestrian traffic, result in injury to people, and possible damage to property.
On Thursday, the police said they were prepared for the march.
“There will be heavy police deployments in the CBD as well as areas of congregation for the marchers,” said Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana.
“The deployment will comprise members of public order policing, metro police, traffic officials, law enforcement and emergency officials,” he said.
Police on horseback would also monitor the protest.
“Members of railway police will also be on high alert and deployed in and around train station precincts,” said Kinana.
“The City of Cape Town's traffic officials with the (South African Police Service) Flying Squad will be deployed on the city's highways and byways.”
Kinana said air support would be deployed if required.
He warned that protesters who broke the law would be arrested. - Sapa