Durban - Durban civil society groups have called for WEF
Africa delegates to leave the city - saying they were not welcome.
Hundreds of residents from across Durban, calling
themselves the People's Economic Forum (PEF), gathered at the space known as
"Speakers Corner" adjacent to the Durban ICC to present a memorandum
to WEF organisers.
Local community activist, Desmond D'Sa, of the South
Durban Community Environmental Alliance, one of the organisers of the forum,
said it was time for people to stand up.
"The WEF is clearly on an arc of human and
ecological destruction. No dressing up of the WEF Africa with a civil society
co-chair can disguise the roles of other delegates who are contributing to
climate change in Africa," he said.
He called for "people over profit".
He said companies found to be corrupt must pay
compensation for their destructive presence on the planet. A heavy police
presence secured the site.
A representative from finance minister Malusi Gigaba's
office, Monale Ratsoma accepted the memorandum and said he would make sure the
WEF and South Africa delegates would it.
INDEPENDENT MEDIA
WEF TEAM