Lobby group Jubilee SA has accused Johannesburg police of harassing its demonstrators outside the Barclays head office in Sandton on Friday.
”Jubilee SA demonstrators had been peacefully voicing their dissent of the Barclays-Absa deal — within the bounds of the Gathering Act — for over 45 minutes, when a police van drove up to the demonstration — with its siren wailing,” said Tristen Taylor, spokesperson for the organisation.
He said police from the Bramley police station ”aggressively harassed peaceful demonstrators”.
”Constables, brandishing automatic weapons, jumped out the van and threatened to arrest every demonstrator.”
Taylor said police refused to discuss the situation with Jubilee SA’s lawyers.
”Jubilee SA does not believe that members of police and security forces have the right to intimidate and harass members of public who expressing their opinions in a legal, non-violent manner.”
Taylor said Jubilee SA would take the matter up with police authorities and was considering legal action.
Johannesburg police spokesperson Captain Schalk Bornman said on Friday that Jubilee SA should report the matter to the area commissioner for investigation.
”If they feel police acted wrongfully, they must report it to the area commissioner so police can investigate the allegations,” said Bornman.
Jubilee SA is demanding an apology from Barclays for supporting the apartheid regime.
In May, Barclays offered R33-billion to Absa shareholders for a stake in the bank.- Sapa