Statement: R2K KZN strongly condemns the police’s action at Anti-Xenophobia March

Photo: Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA

The Right2Know KZN has been informed that the South African Police Public Order Unit is firing rubber bullets and water cannons at the people who are part of the Anti-Xenophobia March taking place at King Dinuzulu Park in Durban today.

The march to demand an end to the current wave of xenophobic violence against foreign nationals is organised by the Congolese Solidarity Campaign “CSC” and other foreign nationals, supported by the Right2Know Campaign and Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA.

According to Phezu Ntetha, R2K KZN Coordinator, who is at the march, the police told the organisers to postpone the march for security reasons, claiming that they are protecting the foreign nationals from locals who will attack them.

The Right2Know Campaign strongly condemns the police’s action. 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.