ANC Youth League marches against racism in Groblersdal
GROBLERSDAL – The African National Congress Youth League in Sekhukhune region, together with all the party’s structures and alliance partners embarked on a march in Groblersdal Town on Wednesday, February 7 to protest against acts of racism in the area.
Hundreds of members marched from the fire station near the Groblersdal Mall to the Groblersdal Magistrate’s Court, where Pieter Groenewald and stepson, Stephan Greeff, were appearing for bail application after their arrest on 18 January in connection with an incident in which they allegedly assaulted and unleashed a pet dog on one of the guards working for Groenewald’s security company on January 17.
The incident occurred after Groenewald, owner of WIPS Security Company and Greeff accused the guard, Veneruru Kavari, a Namibian national, of being drunk at work when he was tasked to man a network tower battery at a site in Kwaggafontein in Mpumalanga province.
Kavari was then transported to Groblersdal to discuss the drunkenness issue with Groenewald, where the altercation, which resulted in the assault and dog biting, occurred.
Kabelo Moganedi, ANCYL Sekhukhune Regional Chairperson, said they resolved to stage the protest because of the incessant racial attack incidents in the Groblersdal area that are meted against black people by whites.
Moganedi indicated that they are worried about numerous racial attack incidents which occurred in the area without the perpetrators being brought to book.
“There are a number of attacks on black people by whites that were reported at the Groblersdal Police Station but we don’t know what happened to those cases. There seems to be some form of favouritism at the station. Today, we want to bring an end to that,” explained Moganedi.
Tala Mathope, ANC Sekhukhune Regional Secretary, stressed on the issue of name-change for Groblersdal Town and stressed that the matter has been long overdue and needs urgent attention.
Mathope pointed out that the racial attack incidents in the area are because the whites can still identify with the name of the town all its streets. “I have spoken about this before. We can change this attitude through implementation of name-change in this town. There are whites who still feel a sense of entitlement here. That must be changed and they should know that the town belongs to all of us,” alluded Mathope.
Chairperson Moganedi said they believe in the leadership of the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality to speedily address the issue of name- change of Groblersdal.
Ground force member of Congress of South African Students (COSAS), Sbonokuhle Ndlovu said they supported the ANCYL’s march because they wanted to see the end of racism as it also adversely affects learners in local schools.
The marchers submitted a memorandum at the Groblersdal Police Station later that day. Key to the demands was the removal of Station Commander, Colonel SB Lengwati, as they accuse the management of not enforcing the law against those who continue to practice racism.