March and March picket outside Murchison Mall
The marchers stressed that they will protest every Thursday as per instructions from their leader.
Members of the March and March movement staged a picket outside Gate 2 of the Murchison Mall today (July 9) to deliver a memorandum to the shopping centre’s management.
The group’s main concern, outlined in the memorandum, was the presence of foreign nationals operating businesses inside the mall. The marchers allege that some of these business owners are operating illegally and do not have the necessary documentation to be in South Africa. They called on the shopping centre’s management to address their concerns.
Police mediate after management declines to accept memorandum
However, the handover of the memorandum did not go as the protesters had anticipated. According to March and March member Pretty Mbuyisa, the shopping centre manager declined to come outside to receive the document personally.
“Management wanted security personnel to accept the memorandum and deliver it on their behalf, but we refused that suggestion,” said Mbuyisa.
She explained that police intervened and negotiated between the two parties. It was eventually agreed that the memorandum would be handed to security, who would deliver it to management. The memorandum would then be signed in the presence of police officers and representatives of March and March. The memorandum was finally signed by Ms Mbali Nala of the shopping centre’s management, who asked not to be filmed by the media while accepting or signing the memorandum.
Weekly Thursday protests planned across South Africa
Mbuyisa said that weekly demonstrations form part of a broader campaign announced by March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma following the June 30 protests.
She said the organisation has resolved to hold protests every Thursday across South Africa, with the Ladysmith branch committing to participate in the nationwide campaign.
During today’s demonstration, Gate 2 of Murchison Mall was temporarily closed while the picket was underway.
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