These people are distressed because they feel that their frustration is repeatedly invalidated by the politicisation of human issues.
Representatives of the Qolweni/Bossiesgif Community staged a peaceful protest march to the Plett Police Station on Monday, March 19 to deliver a memorandum of grievances against members of this station. The mood was sombre as subdued protestors gathered outside the police station ahead of the handover. They carried placards bearing slogans such as "Stop abuse" and "Pantsi nge apartheid" (Down with apartheid).
Protestors expressed their disappointment with what they perceive to be a disregard for their human rights. Many said that they had grown weary of the necessity to protest in order to have their basic needs addressed.
Their memorandum was received by Colonel Donovan Prins, who agreed to get back to the community and schedule a meeting during the coming week.
The issues raised in the memorandum included allegations of discrimination and bias on the part of the police during the recent protests in February which escalated into riots.
It is alleged that police acted on information from informants in the service of political roleplayers, which resulted in community leaders allegedly being intimidated, harassed and assaulted.
A further consequence of the above scenario was that teargas was allegedly fired at a crèche resulting in many of the children falling ill. At least three parents of affected children have previously brought this incident to the attention of this journalist but were unwilling to consent to further investigation on their behalf for fear of victimisation.
The memorandum also dealt with charges laid against a person who had allegedly openly carried a firearm and threatened to kill another. According to protestors, the person who made the threats remains at large despite two cases having been laid against him in addition to a pending case of assault. They demanded that the alleged perpetrator be arrested and detained until the matter appears before the courts.
The police had not yet been able to verify or respond to these allegations at the time of going to press.
In conclusion, the memorandum stated that residents of Qolweni/Bossiesgif intended embarking on further protests to ensure that their demands for service delivery are heard. They requested that police be "very fair and unbiased" and not favour the municipality. They also requested that police refrain from "harassing and intimidating and raiding community leaders' houses" based on erroneous information.
[cl-qol_P1_C1] Peaceful protestors gathered at the Plett Police Station to hand over a memorandum of grievances against police action, on Monday, March 19.
ARTICLE: CANDICE LUDICK, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
