AL-IVE 'politically motivated'
2003-12-01 07:59
Lizel Steenkamp, Adriaan Basson & Borrie la Grange
Johannesburg - The government boycotted the AL-IVE protest march against crime on Sunday after police and intelligence sources apparently uncovered a hidden "political agenda" and informed the minister of safety and security.
Despite pledging his support to AL-IVE two weeks ago, Minister Charles Nqakula did not attend the march on Sunday.
Leslie Xinwa, his spokesperson, said Nqakula had received information that the march was politically motivated.
Lynne Vince-Jillings, director and founder of AL-IVE, said it was the "biggest nonsense" she had ever heard.
"The march had nothing to do with politics. It was a march against crime. Other political parties took part to show a united front against crime, along with ordinary South Africans. He (Nqakula) did not even have the decency to tell us he was not coming."
Vince-Jillings will hand over a memorandum, containing demands about the serious crime situation, to the cabinet in Pretoria on Tuesday.
The large crowd that arrived in Newtown, Johannesburg, to take part in the march was clearly upset about the government's absence.
"They (government) do not give a hoot and aren't in the least bit interested," said Babette Glintenkamp of Johannesburg.
Marchers said they specifically took part in the protest to be "seen and heard" by the government.
The majority of marchers had lost loved ones because of violent crime or were victims themselves. Many of them carried large photos of murdered family members and cried openly at times.
Ernie Brenner from Johannesburg has been paralysed since hijackers shot him in the neck in 2001. He took part in the march in his wheelchair. "I am very emotional. Somebody who has not been personally affected by crime will not understand," he said through his tears.