The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called on motorists to avoid areas around the Phoenix Highway in Durban due to a march taking place by its members on Thursday morning.
The party says the march is in response to the killing of over 30 people during last month’s violent unrest, which has resulted in racial tensions in the area.
EFF eThekwini Spokesperson Mazwi Blose says: “What we are hoping to achieve is to ensure that we remind the police of their constitutional mandate and their constitutional duty. They are there to protect the citizens of the country. We are there to tell the police to go to Phoenix and repossess all these illegal firearms. We are going to be gathering around the Gandhi Park and then proceed on the Phoenix Highway towards the Phoenix Plaza all the way to the Phoenix Police Station. So we have applied for the march and that road is not going to be operational so people must find alternative routes this morning.”
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has written to the Human Rights Commission in attempts to stop the march.
“This kind of destructive racial provocation is all the EFF offers in the way of political discourse and it cannot be allowed to take hold. What we need in KZN is leaders showing true leadership, bringing communities together, preventing violence, and not promoting it. As was the case in the build-up to the looting and violence three weeks ago, starting with the gathering at Nkandla on the eve of former President Jacob Zuma’s arrest, it is clear that the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the province neither can nor will step in to prevent the threat of violence. I believe it is within the SAHRC’s mandate to step in and stop this march.”
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Police Minister Bheki Cele said that 30 of the people were shot and killed, four were burnt to death while others succumbed to their injuries as a result of being assaulted.
“During the unrest, Phoenix became an epicentre of heinous crimes and racist incidents that resulted in brutal killings and injuries. The events in Phoenix had claimed the lives of 36 people, our investigation shows that 30 of those who were killed were shot, two were burnt to death, one was stabbed and another was run over by a vehicle. Two others died from the brutal injuries they sustained after being assaulted. In total police are investigating 52 cases of attempted murder and probing nine cases of common assault and 16 cases of assault GBH,” says Cele.
36 people killed in the Phoenix unrest: Cele
Last week, members of the Phoenix community marched for peace and unity under an ‘all lives matter’ campaign, as seen in the video below:
Residents denounced racism and all forms of violence, and crime.
The community handed over a memorandum to the local police station with a list of demands. They want the police to ensure the safety of all residents, and that all those who incite violence and fear be prosecuted.
A memorandum for the safety, peace and well being of the residents of Phoenix has been handed over the station commander of the Phoenix Police station. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/W2dHaYCKPj
— Jayed-Leigh Paulse (@JayedLeigh) August 1, 2021
