Brackenfell HIgh School
Police and EFF protestors clash outside Brackenfell school as a protest march turns chaotic
Police used stun grenades and sprayed dye and teargas to disperse about 2,000 EFF supporters in Brackenfell outside Cape Town today. The protestors were attempting to force their way through the police barricades protecting routes to the Brackenfell High School.
BRACKENFELL, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 20: Police disperse crowds with teargas during the EFF Mass Protest on November 20, 2020 in Brackenfell, South Africa. The protest action follows a controversial incident at Brackenfell High School where a group of students and teachers were accused of hosting a private, ‘whites-only’ matric dance. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)
A permit was granted for the EFF protest outside Brackenfell High School today, giving permission for 100 protestors to hand over a memorandum to the school.
The EFF said the aim of the protest was to highlight alleged racism and segregation at the school, something that learners have posted about on social media.
At the heart of the matter was a private function organised by parents to celebrate the end of matric after the traditional matric dance was cancelled due to Covid-19.
A woman confronts police after police used stun grenades, water canons and tear gas to disperse EFF members.
Photo / Shiraaz Mohamed.
It was claimed that black learners were neither informed nor invited to the function. Two teachers apparently attended the function on a wine farm.
EFF secretary general Marshall Dlamini negotiated with police, requesting that they increase the number of protestors allowed to march to the school.
An agreement was reached that 500, instead of 100, protestors could approach the school. However, metres down Paradys Road, EFF supporters tried to barge their way through the cordon and the barricade and police opened fire with stun guns and teargas.
Police made use of water canons, tear gas and stun grenades to disperse EFF supporters as they tried to make their way to the school.
Photo / Shiraaz Mohamed.
Protestors scattered in all directions.
Police maintained a perimeter and negotiations resumed. The stalemate lasted for over an hour, with more EFF members joining the protest. By 3pm, there was still no sign of party leader Julius Malema.
BRACKENFELL, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 20: Members of the EFF during the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Mass Protest at Brackenfell High School on November 20, 2020 in Brackenfell, South Africa. The protest action follows a controversial incident at Brackenfell High School where a group of students and teachers were accused of hosting a private ‘whites-only’ matric dance. (Photo by Gallo Images/Ziyaad Douglas)
A barbed wire cordon was erected around the school, with the Cape Party setting up a tent outside the premises. Leaders of the party said they were there in solidarity with the residents of Brackenfell.
Around 3pm a white man approached Dlamini as he was addressing the crowd, an argument ensued which led to a scuffle. Some in the crowd started assaulting the man and police once again fired stun grenades and rubber bullets. There are reports of injured protestors.
This is a developing story. DM/MC
“Some in the crowd started assaulting the man”. Oh, that is the EFF’s version of “peaceful”, “non-violent”, I take it. I take serious issue with the police allowing the EFF to “negotiate” an increase in the numbers. Hopefully this wholesale breach of restrictions will be dealt with at the highest level. With COVID suddenly crawling out of the woodwork again, EFF leadership had no business encouraging this.
Its about time the EFF were forced to obey rules. Why though, did they agree to the increase to 500, the records show that these people cannot be controlled. This has got to stop – there should be no negotiation at alll.
Peaceful, Non Violent protest? Assaulting a man?
EFF leaders are getting away with so much – this should never have been encouraged.
Hopefully these breaches will be dealt with in a significant manner
Protesters, not protestors. Demonstrators, with an “o”, but protesters, with an “e”.
Well done SAPS et al. for containing this mayhem but the EFF should never have been given permission to hold the demonstration in the first place. One did not have to be a clairvoyant to know how it would end up. And whoever agreed with the EFF to up the agreed limit of 100 protestors to 500 must be the answer to a scammer’s dream.
Watching the TV news broadcasts (ENCA and NewsZroom Africa), and reading some articles on News24, I am astounded how the reports vary. I say it blatantly, many of the anchors on the 2 TV stations are blatantly racist on their own, making up their own stories as the day and story goes by. Facts are reversed, and not reported on fairly. In fact,many of them make up their own stories, and give opinions which is one-sided. Clearly, white people are not allowed to have private parties/functions anymore. And if they do, make 100% sure there are Black people as well, even if you have to pay for their expenses. If not, you will be called out as a rasist, and the EFF and their own racist armies will come knocking on your door, supported by some TV news networks
What none of the mainstream media (News24, ENCA, SABC TV News, Newzroom) report is the plunder that took place by EFF members. This include the following: Plunder and looting of shops, Fire wagon set alight, Traffic lights damaged, private vehicle stoned and damaged. So much for peaceful protests! Thank god the school made a wise decision to close the school for the day
As a person resident in Johannesburg it is not that easy to winnow the facts from the fiction re the situation at Brackenfell High School. It does seem however that the EFF has created, at great public expense, a media repast for themselves. Surely as public representatives the EFF should act more responsibly when it comes to the expenditure of public money and resources.
There raison d’être is media attention. Goebbels had nothing on this lot.
One wonders what the media response would have been , if a group of Whites assaulted an EFF member .The solitary White man was visciously assaulted for all to see ,but no commentary from the media. Shame on you !!!!
Pretty sure we saw that a couple of weeks ago, and the commentary included 1) the EFF had no business being there and got what they deserved, 2) that those acts were going to have repercussions, and 3) why must everyone be such hooligans? Same as always. Who says what changes from incident to incident depending on the skin being worn by perpetrators and victims. But the pattern repeats.
In view of rising Covid-19 infections in the Western Cape, I hope this was not a superspreader event. We will know by Christmas.