VIDEO: King Khoisan tells of hunting pigeons during ‘lonely’ protest at Union Building

The small group of protesters, who have been camped outside the Union Buildings since November 2018 in support of Khoisan rights, told Rekord they had to resort to hunting pigeons in order to survive under the lockdown.

“When the lockdown was announced in March our time here became very lonely,” said King Khoisan SA, leader of the group.

This because the many local visitors and overseas tourists visiting the tourist attraction could no longer give them any food or small change.

“Many different people of different nationalities would visit the statue of Madiba here next to us and they would find interest in us and our plight for recognition,” he said.

“These are the people who helped us survive; however, when lockdown hit South Africa, they all had to stay at home and the Union Buildings were deserted.

“We had a terrible time since then.”

He said they would catch two pigeons a day, more if it was “a good day”.

However, after lockdown measures were relaxed under level 3, some organisations and locals were coming in to bring them food.

“No one comes down to the gardens any more as it is barricaded off, but there are good Samaritans who come directly to us to offer food parcels.”

King Khoisan SA said they were also robbed and their cellphones were taken by unknown assailants.

“We have been using the time to think about our future plans on getting the government to meet our demands.”

He said the next step was to start mobilising more members and making them aware of their plight.

“It is unfair that children in schools are not being taught about the Khoisan; how we were the earliest people in the land. The motto on South Africa’s coat of arms is written in the Khoisan language, but that is almost the only recognition we get from the government.”

He said their mobilising more citizens was to gain support from others to put pressure on government to heed to their demands.

Watch:

The Khoisan group of four are still resolute that they would not move from the president’s backyard, unless he “plays ball” on issues raised.

“There is one demand that will make us leave here and that is if the president recognises us as first the nation and our rights as [the] first nation.

“Our people have lost their part in being proudly South Africans.”

He said the Khoisan nationals would be proud of their culture if they were recognised.

He said the Khoisan group remained strong and ready to fight on.

Their demands include that the label “coloured” be removed from all official papers and be replaced with “Khoisan”.

Kwadi-Khoe must also be listed as an official language in South Africa.

They also wanted the Khoisan to be given land and resources to continue their cultures and traditions.