Plans for South Africa’s first public naked bicycle ride, to protest against global warming, have fallen foul of the public-service strike.
So, it appears, has a jobs-for-youth march that the African National Congress Youth League hoped to hold in central Cape Town on Wednesday.
In a blistering statement issued to media on Tuesday afternoon, the league claimed city authorities and police had ”banned mass activities”, and accused them of infringing on the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
”Our determination to fight for the aspirations and inspirations of the youth will not be deterred, the muscle and strength of the masses will sniff these fossils of apartheid out,” fumed the league.
City spokesperson Charles Cooper said that while he was not aware of a league application for a march, it would likely have been refused for the same reason that the naked bike ride, planned for Saturday, was turned down.
He said the city’s director of legal services, Lungelo Mbandazayo, told the ride organisers on May 29 that the city had been advised that all South African Police Services personnel had been placed on high alert due to the ongoing taxi violence and the public-sector strike.
”Please be advised the city can unfortunately not support your application for your group to hold your procession on June 9 as in the absence of the necessary security forces, the city cannot provide the necessary protection to ensure your group’s safety,” Mbandazayo said in a letter.
”Kindly note that should your group proceed, it would be considered illegal.”
Cooper said he understood from the city’s permits office that the police had asked for a moratorium on all similar events and processions.
He said the city issued or declined permission for demonstrations in terms of the Regulation of Gatherings Act, after consulting police and other services.
Cape Town’s naked bike ride was to have coincided with similar rides in 50 other cities worldwide.
Organisers had planned to ride from the Company Gardens in the city centre to Three Anchor Bay to show their commitment to the struggle against climate change. — Sapa