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Social Movements Indaba Marches Against Repression

Marchers gathered at Wits University on the afternoon of August 24 under the banner of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF). A teach-in at Wits University, organised by the International Forum on Globalisation (IFG), culminated in a march [ 1 | 2 | 3 ] where APF protesters were joined by conference delegates, including Trevor Ngwane, Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow, Njoki Njehu, Tony Clarke, Vandana Shiva, and Oscar Olivera. The APF and Social Movements Indaba-led demonstration planned to march towards Johannesburg Central Prison (the old John-Vorster-Square, which had been renamed earlier that day to 'Thabo-Mbeki-John-Vorster-Square') to protest against recent apartheid-style arrests by the government. Those arrested include protesters from the Landless People's Movement involved in Wednesday's and Thursday's marches to Premiere Shilowa's office, arrested journalists, the Kensington 87, and members of the Soldiers Forum.

The march comes in the wake of the mobilization of repressive forces in order to diminsh the effect of protest planned for later this week. The peaceful candle-lit procession had not even left the campus when it was met by massive police presence. The response to this peaceful march was the unleashing of repression against which the protesters were rallying. Without warning the police fired smoke and concussion grenades into the center of the march. Three people were injured and a prominent local journalist and media activist, Rehad Desai, was arrested and later released on R1000 bail.


Even though footage and individual reports of the march indicate an unprovoked attack by the police, the South African Minister of Foreign affairs, Nkosazana Zuma disingenuously claimed the police violence was directed at only a portion of the march at a press conference. In anticipation of more and larger marches planned for the 'W$$D', this response by the police to a peaceful march demonstrates a growing intolerance of dissent by the government and summit organizers. Despite this, protests, arrests, and South Africa IMC coverge continues. With Sandton transformed into a no-go area for free speech, and much of the city 'Disneyfied' so as to portray a South African transformation, little is left for the voices of those excluded.


More information is available with an interview with Naomi Klein, and at previous coverage of the WSSD [ August 26a | August 25 | August 24 | August 23 | August 19 | August 1 | July 25 ].

[ South Africa IMC | Social Movements Indaba | International Forum on Globalization ]