Tight security around Parliament in Cape Town yesterday ahead of the local government elections saw a planned rally outside the precinct by a group of anti-vaxxers turn into a picnic protest on the Sea Point Promenade.
The heavy police presence caused more than 100 protesters – members of the African Christian Democratic Party opposed to mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations – move from outside Parliament, where they had hoped to stage a "Freedom Rally", to Sea Point, where they held a "Freedom Picnic" instead.
As a precautionary measure, police have cordoned off the roads surrounding and leading to Parliament. However, 10 police vehicles and police officers were present at the Sea Point venue.
Over the past six months, the same group has organised several pro-choice protests in different locations around the city.
At a protest earlier this month, two women, Noleen Glasgow and Debbie Els, were injured in a scuffle with the police. Both Glasgow and Els were present at yesterday’s picnic. While Glasgow has recovered, Els is in a wheelchair.
Glasgow said she has opened a case against the police officer who attacked her at the last protest.
“Today is just people coming together to celebrate our freedom. We share the same values, and we are fighting for the same cause,” she said.
She added: “This is the picnic revolution. The police can’t do anything about us having a picnic and we can’t be forced to wear masks if we eat.”
Els said she’s been to the doctor for X-rays and would have to go for an MRI scan in the coming week.
“I broke my back, it looks like my hips are broken and my meniscus is torn.”
Els started crying when she addressed the crowd, saying she wants to be out fighting for rights, not in a wheelchair.
“You have to stand up and not fear the police. I will keep coming back even if I must come in a hospital bed,” she said.
In a now-removed Facebook post, ACDP leader Kenneth Meshoe said the party promised to join various organisations to protest against mandatory vaccines and passports. Yesterday, however, party leaders and officials were not there.
Provincial leader and mayoral candidate for the ACDP, Ferlon Christians, said the Electoral Commission of South Africa had informed them that all political parties had to cease campaigning from midnight, Friday.
He added: “It’s not that we didn’t want to attend the protest – we don’t have the authorisation to be there, and as the ACDP we will never go against the rule of law.”
But IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the cut off for campaigns was midnight on October 31