On Monday, Ses’Khona People’s Rights Movement protested in Cape Town outside the High Court against the City’s bid for a court interdict to stop “illegal” protests. Picture by Masixole Feni.
9 September 2014
Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement supporters came in their numbers to protest outside the Western Cape High Court about an interdict the City of Cape Town seeks to stop them protesting.
The City approached the court to interdict Ses’Khona from holding illegal demonstrations. The City’s legal team referred to a number of times when Ses’Khona went ahead after their applications to march were turned down. The City claims the illegal marches have cost it millions of rands in repairing damaged infrastructure, and that the protests put strain on the South African Police Service.
Ses’Khona opposes the court interdict, saying the City of Cape Town seeks to deny them their constitutional rights. Advocate Pearl Mathibela for Ses’Khona said the City complained about a few violent protests when the group had conducted other protests that were peaceful.
She also said Ses’Khona did not deliberately go ahead with marches that were denied, but did so because email correspondence was picked up later.
Mathibela said Ses’Khona is made up of shackdwellers and backyard dwellers who are poor, with no legal means to approach courts and challenge the City when their applications to march are rejected.
The City responded that its intention is not to stop lawful marches but to stop unlawful conduct.
Judgement is reserved for a date yet to be announced.
Outside the court, Ses’Khona’s Andile Lili told the group’s supporters that the court interdict is an attempt by the City to ban Ses’khona.
Lili said, “They are talking about illegal marches yet they are the ones who denied those marches.”
He said Ses’Khona will continue to march in Cape Town CBD against poor service delivery.