Zwelihle Renewal has confirmed to
Hermanus Times on Friday (17 August) that there will be no riots. There are
also no plans for stay-away action on Monday.
“There are rumours of riots.
This is not true,” says Nomawethu Lamani, a member of the Zwelihle Renewal
committee.
A voice note and WhatsApp messages
have been doing the rounds, claiming that a community meeting at the Zwelihle
Taxi Rank last night (Thursday 16 August) was not well attended and the planned stay-away action for
Friday was cancelled. The message further claims there is a strong possibility
of stay-away action on Monday and that there have been threats of riots if Gcobani is found guilty on charges of inciting violence and damage to public property.
Lamani however, strongly denies this. She says last night’s
meeting was cancelled due to the rain. The meeting will take place on Sunday
and is only for those who wish to support Gcobani Ndzogana at his court appearance on Monday in Stellenbosch.
“We do not have time for protesting. We are busy helping community members who lost their jobs to approach the CCMA. We are also assisting those who claim police brutality to make a case with IPID (Independent Police Investigative Directorate).
According to Lamani, Zwelihle Renewal is “ready to sit around the table” and discuss the issues. She says they are waiting for Police Minister Bheki Cele to convene a meeting with the Ministers of Labour, Justice and Education.
