South African authorities said on Thursday they were ready to keep the peace during a series of marches for and against the Jo’burg World Summit.
Matters are expected to come to a head on Saturday when several government ministers are to join the Global Forum march which supports the Summit, while the Social Movements Indaba (SMI) holds a demonstration against the event. The SMI has decried the WSSD as an attempt by the rich to further fleece the poor.
The Global Forum and the SMI will use similar routes from Alexandra to Sandton while a march by the Landless People’s Movement will precede these by an hour.
Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo approved all three marches on Wednesday night in terms of the Gatherings Act.
His representative, Kgotso Chikane said on Thursday morning that marchers would be kept on a tight leash by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the national police, the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and other security agencies.
”If there is any unruly behaviour, we will stop the march immediately. Nothing that threatens the security of delegates, people’s lives or any property will be allowed,” he said.
The SMI will depart at 10am from the Bheki Langa High School and lead the Global Forum march by two kilometres. The second march will depart at noon from the Alexandra Stadium. The route will be about nine kilometres long.
Marchers will enter Sandton via Old Pretoria Road, and make their way down Marlboro Avenue to Katherine Street before stopping at ”Speakers’ Corner” at the intersection of Alice Lane and 5th Street. They will follow a different route back.
The JMPD also ordered organisers to provide one clearly identifiable marshal for every 10 marchers. Usage of the N1 Grayston interchange will not be allowed and marchers will also not be permitted to block the M1 motorway.
At a press conference at the Cosatu House offices of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF), later on Thursday, SMI leaders expressed satisfaction with the route allocated.
”We are satisfied with the route. It is a longer route through Alexandra and a longer route through Sandton,” the SMI’s John Appolis told journalists.
He added that it was significant that the SMI would be allowed to march first.
”We were the first to ask to march through Alexandra. The other march is only possible because of our struggle.”
Once in Sandton he did not plan to hand over any memorandums or demands.
”We are not interested. It would be of no use. The WSSD is the rubber stamp of the imperialists and South African government.”
APF secretary and SMI organiser Trevor Ngwane said the two marches would offer Alexandra residents a sharp contrast.
”It is a political fight for the hearts and minds of Alexandra’s people. Ours is a march for the poor. Theirs is an anti-establishment march by the establishment.”
To this Appolis added that their march was against privatisation plans as encapsulated in the government’s Growth, Empowerment and Redistribution (Gear) strategy and in the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
”The other march will attempt to hide and camouflage the effects of neo-liberalism. The leaders of the other march are the very ones implementing these policies. We are the real voice of progressive forces nationally and internationally.
”The people of Africa are opposed to structural adjustment programmes. Nepad is supported by Africa’s leaders. But all it does is change who is implementing these programmes. Up to now it was the World Bank. Now its Africa’s elite.”
Asked whether the SMI offered a viable alternative to Nepad and Gear, Ngwane said saying ”no” to privatisation already opened the road to an alternative.
”The way forward is not privatisation or putting profit before people. The way forward is free basic services, food and shelter for all. That is the type of system we are fighting for.”
He said President Thabo Mbeki’s real mistake with Nepad and Gear was thinking that a partnership between a horse and its rider was possible.
”You cannot negotiate with parasites.”
The SMI, which has been branded a loose coalition of ultra-leftists and anarchists, describes itself as a ”network of social movements and allies committed to organising communities to wield power directly”.
The Global Forum march is being organised by the African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance partners, the SA Communist Party and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu).
Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Valli Moosa — the WSSD convenor — and Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya are likely to participate.
They will be urge the WSSD to eradicate poverty through a ”fairer world economy”.
An African National Congress representative said about 20 000 people were expected to participate in their march. The SMI expected at least 10 000 at theirs.
The LPM march, set for 9am, will start at George Lea Park in Sandton and proceed up Sandton Drive to Alice Street and Speakers’ Corner.
The LPM, which has close links with the National Land Committee, wants speedier land reform in South Africa and has spoken with approval of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s controversial land reform programme.
In its reaction, the South African government said it was satisfied that discussions on the routes for the marches planned for Saturday had led to an amicable and acceptable outcome for all concerned. – Sapa
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