The South African government needs to take people seriously, actor and comedian Desmond Dube said at the Million Man March anti-crime gathering in Pretoria on Tuesday.
”The leadership needs to take people seriously. They are sending the wrong message to the country … that people are not important,” he said.
Dube is the organiser of the gathering at the Union Buildings in the city.
Hundreds of people, including pupils of St Mary’s High School in Waverley, Johannesburg, have gathered to support the initiative, which began following the murder of Dube’s neighbour, Bashimane Mofokeng, in a hijacking.
Humaira Sarong, a pupil at the school, said: ”I am here to take a stand against crime. It’s disappointing that the President [Thabo Mbeki] won’t be here to receive the memorandum.”
Asked whether she would consider emigrating, she said that she hoped she wouldn’t have to, although her father had discussed it.
There was a heavy police presence, with cops patrolling on horseback and helicopters flying overhead.
Dube said he was disappointed that Mbeki would not be accepting a memorandum on behalf of government.
The aim of the gathering was to change people’s mindsets and let them know they could help in the fight against crime.
Toni Williams, mother of 12-year-old Emily Williams who was gunned down in Fairlands, Johannesburg, in February, said: ”I’m here to bring people’s attention to crime.”
Expressing her disappointment at Mbeki’s absence, Williams, wearing a pink beanie with her daughter’s name on it, said this was the ”typical attitude” that needed to be eradicated.
Democratic Alliance members were present in yellow T-shirts and a group from the Azanian People’s Organisation was also present.
The main event is expected to begin at noon.
Organisers of the march said on Monday that they hope criminals will get the message that the country is united against them.
”We are expecting a lot of people. We have received messages from people saying they are coming. It does not matter if we don’t get one million people,” said Lydia Moleele.
”Even if we get 400 000, it means that 400 000 people will be able to make a stand to say ‘enough is enough’ and that we are uniting together against this monster [crime].
”People of all races, children, businessmen … we want to show them [criminals] that we can give them a shake.”
Metro police spokesperson Alta Fourie said the organisers had been granted permission to hold the event from 5am to 6pm.
Certain intersections along Vermeulen, Church, Soutpansberg, Skinner, Nelson Mandela and Hamilton streets in the city would be traffic free to allow people to walk to the buildings. — Sapa