A group of people is protesting outside the Groote Kerk in Cape Town ahead of former President FW de Klerk’s state memorial service.
De Klerk was South Africa’s last apartheid-era President and Deputy President in the 1994 government of national unity.
De Klerk died of cancer last month at the age of 85.
He was laid to rest at a private funeral service more than two weeks ago.
SABC News Reporter Nosipho Mncube says the group of picketers say they are disgusted that the Presidency is hosting a memorial service for an apartheid-era President.
Some CPT community members are staging a silent picket near the church where the #deklerkmemorialservice is currently underway. They say they are disgusted that the Presidency is hosting and honoring the last Apartheid-era President. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/5Pkh3c3mND
— Nosipho Mncube (@nozmncube) December 12, 2021
Mncube says the South African Police Service has since instructed the group of protestors to leave.
SAPS has moved in and instructed those staging the picket to leave. #DeKlerkMemorialService #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/TKngxuT1FV
— Nosipho Mncube (@nozmncube) December 12, 2021
The group is calling on government to meet with the families of victims of the apartheid-era atrocities.
Some of the protesters are calling on NPA head Advocate Shamila Batohi to resign due to a lack of prosecutions.
Others are demanding justice for struggle stalwarts such as the late Ashley Kriel, Anton Fransch and Imam Abdullah Haron.
“We are saying that he has not made the time to meet with Apartheid era victims’ families who has written to him on two occasions, who has asked him to apologise for the delay in cases being opened. The former TRC representatives have called on him and asked him to investigate the political interference and the National Prosecuting Authority.”
Protests outside De Klerk’s memorial:
Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has since arrived and is expected to deliver the eulogy at the memorial service this morning.
Mourners have also started to trickle in.
Guests trickling into Groote Kerk for the memorial service of the last Apartheid-era President F.W. de Klerk in Cape Town City Centre this morning. The service is expected to begin at 10h30. Our reporter @BarbierAbra will be crossing live. @SABCNews #deklerkmemorialservice pic.twitter.com/bEml2ObUgX
— Nosipho Mncube (@nozmncube) December 12, 2021
Live proceedings of De Klerk’s memorial service:
