The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) still intended to march on the Presidency on Friday to start its ”No Land, No Vote” campaign although permission had been refused, a spokesperson said.
The marchers were to depart by train from the Johannesburg station by 10am, but at around 10.30am they were still waiting for more marchers to arrive, Maureen Mnisi said.
The Tshwane metro police has refused permission for the march from the Pretoria station to the Union Buildings.
Metro police spokesperson Mel Vosloo said this was because the application was lodged too late and because the LPM did not produce a letter from the Presidency stating that someone would be receiving the movement’s memorandum.
But Mnisi said: ”We did everything in our power. We did send the notice early. This is all part of the game.”
The National Land Committee’s Andile Mngxitama, who is also involved with the organisation of the march, said the application was filed last Friday, and the law required that this be done seven days in advance.
There were also legal provisions allowing for an application to be made within 24 hours, and even for spontaneous gatherings, he said.
”The right to assembly is a fundamental human right … It is as important as the right to life.”
The requirement of the letter from the Presidency was absurd, Mngxitama said.
”It means that in South Africa no single person can demonstrate unless the person against whom he intends to demonstrate says it is okay.”
Vosloo said a march of 2 000 people through the city centre could not go ahead unless it was certain someone would receive the memorandum at end destination.
”It’s not that we are not willing, or against the march. It’s all about good order.” – Sapa