The Democratic Alliance’s eagerly anticipated march to the ANC’s headquarters for “real jobs” was stopped by police on Marshall Street in the CBD this morning. The JMPD and SAPS claimed it would be too dangerous for the DA to march into Beyers Naude Square – the new destination of the march after earlier not being allowed to march straight to Luthuli House. The police launched stun grenades into the crowd to restore order after a group of violent ANC members broke away from the larger body at Luthuli House to attack DA members as they marched back to their point of departure. A water cannon was on standby just in case the violence escalated.
The demonstration had gone without incident until DA leader Helen Zille began to address the marching DA members who had sensed the tension from the ANC members further down the road. Shortly after this, protesters dressed in ANC attire rushed the group and started throwing bricks before the police responded quickly to diffuse the violence.
The DA’s candidate for Gauteng, Premier Mmusi Maimane, commended the Democratic Alliance’s protesters for not reacting violently and called for them to address their concerns at the ballot.
“We won’t fight. We’ll win the election. Let’s be orderly and peaceful,” said Maimane.
Are we a nation that is no longer disturbed by political intolerance? What does the ANC’s inability to peacefully accept the DA’s memorandum of grievance mean for our country, which has easily one of the most respected Constitutions in the world?
Tell us. #LiveVIPZA #DAmarch
Photography by: @rebelleROGUE and @RofhiwaManeta
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