Hundreds of civil society supporters have lashed out against the World Economic Forum on Africa, calling it “a fraud”.
Under the banner of “The People’s Economic Forum” the group marched to the ICC to deliver a memorandum of demands that range from accountability for corruption, disinvestment in coal fired power stations, and jobs for Africa’s unemployed youth.
Marchers carried signs and placards condemning nuclear energy, and calling for greater accountability for tax payer’s money.
“This was a people’s protest, a place where we could raise our concerns a place we created ourselves after being excluded from the WEF,” says a protester.
“There should be more jobs available for the young people. They discuss about us without us, most of the delegates who are there are the bunch of dictators don’t care about the problems of the poor. They cannot talk about future take policies without asking us. Look where we are standing here there is a barrier between us and them. That’s what they have created,” said the protester.
Deputy Director General for Economic Policy at the National Treasury- Monale Ratsoma- accepted the memorandum of demands outside the ICC.
“The conversations that are taking place inside those buildings have never been more relevant because they talk about issues of inclusivity. The economy should not leave anyone behind so everyone so my report to them would be that the community out there are saying you need to intensify our efforts for inclusive economic growth,” says Ratsoma-
WEF official Monale Ratsoma will accept the memorandum from People's Forum March. #WEFAfrica2017 #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/ky7N7FTbjL
— Minoshni Pillay (@Minoshni) May 3, 2017
– By Minoshni Pillay
