Luthuli House security tightened ahead of march

Luthuli House

Luthuli House

Published Sep 4, 2016

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JOHANNESBURG: As the battle to “occupy” the ANC Luthuli House headquarters intensifies, the ANC has warned headquarters staff to “expect groups of people to come for a possible protest” and ordered them not to allow any visitors.

According to an internal memo to ANC managers and Luthuli House staff, staff members should report for duty as normal on Monday, but ensure they are at work before 8am. The memo is dated September 2 and signed by Ignatius Jacobs, general manager in the office of ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.

“Please note that the ANC HQ shall prepare for all possible eventualities. As part of these arrangements, all staff are encouraged not to have any activities or meetings in Luthuli House over the weekend.

“On Monday itself, all ANC managers and Luthuli staff members are requested to report for duty as normal. Please note that no visitors shall be allowed into the building on Monday,” the memo stated.

This comes after calls by “a group of concerned ANC members” for mobilisation and a mass occupation of Luthuli House on Monday.

The group includes former Wits University Students Representative Council (SRC) president Mcebo Dlamini, Johannesburg ANC member Sasa Manganye and former ANC Youth League national executive committee member Ntibi Modise.

The planned occupation of Luthuli House was apparently intended to demand that President Jacob Zuma and the ANC national executive committee resign following the losses the party suffered in the August 3 local government elections.

On Sunday, security was being beefed up outside Luthuli House ahead of the planned march.

At least three South AfricanPolice Service nyalas were parked in the area around Luthuli House, with barbed wire on trailers on standby, presumably to prevent protesters getting close to the building.

Johannesburg metro police had also already closed one of the lanes on Sauer Street which passes outside Luthuli House.

Not many police officers were on the streets. Some were sitting in their cars, but the number of vehicles visible showed they were not taking the planned protest lightly.

Also on Sunday, the ANC Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC) “strongly” discouraged all members of the ANC in Gauteng from participating in the campaign to occupy the headquarters.

“The PEC believes the challenges facing the ANC can only be resolved through proper and structured organisational processes such as the special national consultative conference that we are calling for. All ANC members should therefore remain disciplined and participate in these processes,” it said in a statement issued after an extended PEC meeting in Johannesburg at weekend. – African News Agency

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