Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato expressed his shock at the treatment of Restaurant and Tourism industry staff, when they participated in a peaceful demonstration outside Parliament at 10h00 this morning: ‘I am appalled at video footage showing the aggressive conduct of the South African Police Service (SAPS) today as they used heavy handed tactics against peaceful hospitality industry protesters outside parliament this morning’.

I was slightly late for the start of the protest, and in walking past staff of Hudson’s in Kloof Street, they told me that the Police were prepared for the demonstration and started shooting water cannons and tear gas at the Restaurant and Tourism Industry representatives peacefully forming a human chain, with Social Distancing of 1,5 meters apart, outside Parliament. This action led to the peaceful demonstration being brought to an abrupt halt, and staff returning to their restaurants and businesses, angry, and severely disappointed with the police action and in the Government!

The #ServeUsPlease campaign was initiated by a group of Barmen and Restaurateurs, who organised a peaceful protest in the same week, two days after the #JobssaveLives’ campaign initiated by the Restaurant Industry of South Africa.  Restaurants placed their tables and chairs outside into the street, and minimal police action was experienced around the country. The photograph on the right was taken outside Caprice Café in Camps Bay, where I took a seat with owner David Raad.

Today’s protest was well organised, participants requested to bring a 1,5 meter ribbon, to keep to Social Distancing, to wear masks, to bring their staff uniform or to dress in black and white, and to bring signs to hold up.  Participants were specifically told to not bring weapons, jewelry, or valuables, or to stand huddled in groups. Marshalls were to be organised to keep the protest orderly. Its main aim was the following: ‘’Showing Government that we stand in solidarity and will not allow the Hospitality/Tourism industry to be unheard or mistreated’’.

 

The full statement by the Mayor, the first top level person to respond to this morning’s action, follows.  He is to be commended for his speedy response and for his strong words addressed to President Cyril Ramaphosa! .

 

‘STATEMENT BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR, ALDERMAN DAN PLATO.

I am appalled at video footage showing the aggressive conduct of the South African Police Service (SAPS) today as they used heavy handed tactics against peaceful hospitality industry protesters outside parliament this morning.

It is unacceptable that a peaceful protest by business owners and employees fearing for the loss of their livelihoods, is met with water cannons and stun grenades. Reported claims from the SAPS members on the scene that ‘protests are not allowed under lockdown’ does not hold water as several protests have been allowed outside parliament during lockdown without the use of such intimidation tactics.

The hospitality and tourism sectors are vital to Cape Town’s economy, but because of the national government regulations, they are facing complete financial ruin. Hundreds of thousands of jobs are in jeopardy, putting further strain on government resources, and limiting efforts to grow our economy.

In Cape Town and the Western Cape, we have done our part to prepare for the coronavirus in line with the original purpose of the lockdown. National government cannot continue with regulations that destroy industries that have taken adequate measures at considerable cost to ensure they can open safely.

I call on President Cyril Ramaphosa to give urgent attention to the legitimate concerns of our hospitality and tourism sectors. Various sensible proposals have been made by the representative bodies for these industries, and national government can no longer ignore their plight.

Jobs save lives Mr President, you have a duty to respond to the cries of the hospitality sector and its many thousands of employees.‘

Read more: http://tiny.cc/oxaksz

#CTNews

 

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde reacted to the Police action later today. This is what he wrote on Facebook:

‘It is totally unacceptable that peaceful protesters are being met with hostile treatment by the police. We have contacted the provincial police commissioner to intervene.

See joint statement by Minister Fritz and Minister Maynier condemning the heavy-handed response to restaurants’ peaceful protest outside parliament👇

The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, condemns the heavy-handed and unwarranted response to the reportedly peaceful protest action by the restaurant and hospitality industry outside of parliament today under the slogans #JobsSaveLives and #ServeUsPlease.

Minister Fritz has called out the apparent hypocrisy of SAPS’ heavy-handed response in the CBD, whilst arguing that they are under-resourced and unable to adequately attend to violent and malicious protest action elsewhere.

It is reported that the peaceful protestors were standing outside parliament in a socially distanced manner whilst holding placards. They then began to form a human chain separated by 1.5 meter long ribbon. At which point the police informed the protestors that they were not within their rights to protest. They then said that the protestors had two minutes to disperse and proceeded to use water guns and set off stun grenades.

Minister Fritz said, “It is absurd that SAPS and the SANDF are not able to fully mobilise enough resources to respond adequately to violent protests in areas which are experiencing looting, public violence, land invasions, destruction of property and barricading of roads; and yet they are able to mobilise water cannons and stun grenades at the drop of a hat to disperse peaceful protests.”

Minister Fritz added, “I have raised this matter with the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata. It is essential that SAPS’ Public Order Policing’s (POP) protocol be urgently reviewed to ensure that their response is adequate and proportional to the threat experienced.”

The Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier said, “Our tourism and hospitality industry is hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the current restrictions are having a major impact on these businesses who are facing severe job losses and closure. We have repeatedly called for the opening of these businesses where they are able to do so safely and responsibly through engagements with the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.”

Minister Maynier continued, “Instead of a constructive and common-sense response, the tourism and hospitality sector has been subject to flip flopping, uncertainty and today, an unnecessary use of violence in response to a peaceful protest. This is completely unjustifiable considering the lengths that the industry has gone to in order to put in place the necessary safety measures to stop the spread of Covid-19. These businesses can open safely and they should be allowed to do so.”

 

Photographs and videos of today’s Police action can be seen in my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/261165661682371/?ref=share

 

About Chris von Ulmenstein

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein