Solidarity with Break Free SA: support the right to protest the Guptas
R2K joins in solidarity today at 2pm at the South Gauteng High Court, as Break Free South Africa fights for the right to protest at the Gupta residence.
The protest, set for Saturday 14 May, aims to highlight the link between corporations who profit from the coal industry and the devastating impact that climate change has on the lives of millions of people in South Africa. The protest will take place at No. 1 Saxonwold, the Gupta family residence.
The Gupta family is only a symbol of the broader relationship between business and government which has kept our society hooked on policies that bring profit to a few at the expense of the majority of the people of South Africa. We will not only direct our outrage at government that sets the policies, but also at the private sector that reaps the profit.
Break Free South Africa has a right to protest at the Gupta residence at No 1 Saxonwold in Johannesburg. R2K activists have participated at every step of the process and can confirm that we have jumped through all the administrative hoops of the Regulation of Gatherings Act. But at the last minute, Johannesburg Metro Police Department has caved under pressure from the Gupta lawyers and state intelligence to stop the protest from going ahead.
This move comes as no surprise, but we must claim our right to protest. The Guptas can try to capture the state but we will not let them capture our right to protest!
Today at 2pm, we will join Break Free SA at the South Gauteng High Court to challenge this refusal. Download the court papers (27MB).
- For more information contact:
Bongani Xezwi (078 030 5192)
Ntombi Tshabalala (078 594 8962)
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Break Free South Africa statement: Gupta family unjustly pressures government to stop peaceful protest.
JOHANNESBURG –– A peaceful action organised by Break Free South Africa[1] taking place this coming Saturday, at No.1 Saxonwold in Johannesburg, famously known as the “Gupta Compound”, has been prohibited by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD).
The planned protests is not just about the Gupta family who resided in this compound before relocating to Dubai, but what they represent. They are the public face of the close business-government relationship that functions as a serious stumbling block in the country’s urgent need for a just transition to renewable energy.
350.org (Africa and Arab World) is weighing its options to challenge this decision and to push forward with its peaceful protest. This goes against our constitutional right to freedom of speech freedom to gather and the freedom to protest.
“We are appalled at the blatant disregard of our constitutional right to protest. As it stands the fight for climate justice is interlinked with the fight for social justice. We have a right to march and the right to protest is fundamental in maintaining a healthy democracy” said Ferrial Adam, 350.org (Africa and Arab World) Team Director.
350.org followed all procedures and legal requirements to notify JMPD of our intention to march.
The police were notified of our gathering on March 17th, 2016. The required Section 4 meeting with Metro police was held on May 4th to notify of a public protest, and plans of the public gathering outside no 1 Saxonwold were laid out and approved.
But on May 5th, 2016, we were notified by the police that the State Intelligence pressured the JMPD to revoke our right to protest on the claims that the action cannot take place in a residential area. “While the reversal of the decision made on the 4th of May came as no surprise it reaffirms that business interests still come before the people’s well-being” said Amir Bagheri – 350.org Break Free campaigner.
We can only believe that the final decision was a push from state intelligence. Two meetings were held with JMPD. At the second meeting, lawyers representing Ronica Ragavan – who has often acts on behalf of the Gupta family- was present. 350.org was notified today, May 11th, 2016 of the prohibition. According to the Gatherings Act 205 of 1993, there is no clause that stipulates that a gathering cannot take place outside a residential home.
NOTES TO EDITORS
[1] Break Free South Africa comprises of civil society organisations, coal mining impacted communities, farmers and NGO’s, who have all united to speak out and protest against the climate crises and corruption in the coal mining sector. This is part of a global wave of peaceful actions to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground. During May 4 – 14, thousands of people across six continents are engaging in these actions under the banner of Break Free.
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