Statement: We have the Right to Protest!

R2K_KZN strongly condemns the Durban Metro Police’s action of denying the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) and the Clairwood Racecourse Action Committee the right to protest.

The Durban Metro Police have tried to stop the picket at Greyville Racecourse from going ahead, on the basis that these organisations haven’t given seven days’ notice.

The Gatherings Act makes it clear that protesters can give less than seven days’ notice before a protest, if they also providing a reason for doing so. SCDEA notified the authorities six days ahead of time and gave a reason for doing so, which means they’ve complied with the Regulation of Gatherings Act.

The community is protesting against a planned development that will turn the Clairwood Racecourse into a logistics & trucking centre. The community is against this development because they say it will only add to the pollution, the asthma, the threats to commuters especially school going kids who walk through this area daily.

As R2K, we would like to reiterate that the right to organise, protest and speak out is central to all community struggles for social justice. But the right to protest appears to be under threat; policing methods are becoming more aggressive and violence against protesters seems to be increasing.

The right to protest plays a critical function in ensuring a government and private sector that is more responsive to the needs of ordinary people. R2K will continue to fight to ensure our democratic right to protest is respected.

We urge the public and the people who will be attending the Durban July festivities to support the community of Clairewood who will be gathering outside Greyville Racecourse Main Entrance (150 Avondale Rd, Greyville, Durban) tomorrow, 4 July 2015 from 10:00AM.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD!
WE HAVE THE RIGHT2PROTEST!