As part of a protest march organised by the Move One Million campaign, dozens of people gathered in the CBD on Saturday.
Capetonians gathered at the Grand Parade on 5 September 2020 to protest against corruption, farm murders, gender-based violence, and child killings. Picture: Kaylynn Palm/EWN.
CAPE TOWN – Hundreds of Capetonians have voiced their anger over rising levels of crime and corruption in South Africa.
As part of a protest march organised by the Move One Million campaign, dozens of people gathered in the CBD on Saturday.
Similar demonstrations were held across the country.
Capetonians from all walks of life gathered at the Grand Parade to speak out against various problems plaguing the country including crime and corruption.
The group called for change and decisive action.
Standing among the crowd was the father of seven-year-old Emaan Solomons, Azmir Oosthuizen, who was killed in Ocean View, in February.
Solomons was caught in a gang crossfire while playing in front of her family home.
An emotional Oosthuizen held a poster with a picture of his little girl with the words ‘Emaan forever’ and ‘protect our children’. He said he wanted to see government do more to protect children and women in society.
“It’s the worst time of my life. I can’t put it into words the daily struggle, the battle every day. Every day it brings back memories. My cry to Mr President Cyril Ramaphosa is how do you sleep at night, knowing that our children and women’s lives are getting destroyed?”
Move One Million’s Jarette Petzer said as an organisation they stood for change: “This is the beginning, the start of our campaign. We going to mass mobilize our country, work in our townships and find community leaders, get involved in community projects, and build unity.”
CALL FOR ACTION AGAINST FARM MURDERS
The protestors also called for action against farm murders.
AgriSA said this week, the recent annual crime stats show that there have been 49 murders on farms over the 2019/2020 financial year.
And in June alone, 31 people were killed.
Debbie Els from the Stop Farm Murders Movement said groups of people came out on Saturday to get government to listen and wants government to address the ongoing problem.
“It needs to stop. Government needs to pull its weight and help the farmers. They are our bread and butter and at the moment, they are not doing anything much with regards to the farmers. So, if they are not going to do anything, we as the people of South Africa are going to do something.”
