Duarte blasts ‘silly’ DA march

There was no point to the DA's march for "real jobs" on Wednesday, ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte said. File picture: Phill Magakoe

There was no point to the DA's march for "real jobs" on Wednesday, ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte said. File picture: Phill Magakoe

Published Feb 12, 2014

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Johannesburg - There was no point to the DA's march for “real jobs” on Wednesday, ANC deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte said.

“We are going to have to stand our ground every time the DA wants to do something ridiculous, illogical and silly,” she told reporters after the DA's march.

The Democratic Alliance's march for “real jobs” started at the Westgate transport hub in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning and was supposed to end at Beyers Naude square, about a block from the African National Congress's headquarters Luthuli House.

However, the procession was cut short when police stopped the DA at the corner of Marshall and Rissik streets and told them it was too dangerous to continue.

A short while later, a group of people wearing ANC attire ran towards the marchers and police fired stun grenades at them. On Miriam Makeba Street, a group, also dressed in ANC attire, threw petrol bombs at police.

Duarte said the DA came to Johannesburg looking for a confrontation.

“They meant to be confrontational. They took the undemocratic process of marching to another political party,” she said.

If any other political party decided to march to the ANC's headquarters it would get the same response. The ANC admitted some of its members were carrying sticks and stones, but said party officials confiscated these.

Four people wearing ANC T-shirts were arrested for public violence.

Colonel Katlego Mogale said people became violent when DA supporters arrived in Rissik Street and police officers were stoned and petrol bombed.

Despite this, no injuries were reported, she said.

“If there are members arrested we want to know who they are, and if they are members we will take action,” ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said.

Sapa

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