Cape Town - Poo protesters are to turn to President Jacob Zuma to resolve their grievances after the last seven accused were given bail.
They want Zuma to force Western Cape Premier Helen Zille to provide decent sanitation for all, or they will make the city ungovernable.
Residents from Kosovo, Kanana, Barcelona and Khayelitsha will also table a proposal to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) asking it to withdraw charges against Andile Lili, Andile Nkohla, Yanga Mjingwana, Ben Dyani, Jaji Diniso, Bongile Zanazo, Thembela Mabanjwa, Bantubakhe Mgobodiya and Wandesle Mkapa. The seven are charged with contravening the Civil Aviation Act.
Xolani Dywili, a member of the Western Cape informal settlements interim task team, said the residents had raised R14 000 to pay bail.
“We as these communities believe they are fighting for us. It is something that we won’t give up on,” he said.
Dywili said they were preparing a proposal which they would table, most likely next week, to the NPA, requesting all charges be withdrawn.
This included public violence charges against 184 arrested while allegedly en route to dump human waste at the Provincial Legislature.
They would also write to Zuma asking him to intervene and “tell Zille to fix the problem with our toilets”.
“If she does not listen to what the president says, then we will make this city ungovernable. This is not a threat,” Dywili said.
Lili and his co accused were arrested on June 25 after allegedly emptying containers of faeces inside the Cape Town International Airport terminal building.
They are due in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on August 5.
Cape Times