Cape Town cops guarding Zille's offices

2012-08-27 13:01

Cape Town - Police officers in full riot gear took up position outside the Western Cape legislature on Monday, awaiting ANC Youth League protesters.

At about 12:30, thousands of marchers were walking up Adderley Street and entering Wale Street where the provincial legislature can be found.

The group intends handing a memorandum on service delivery demands to Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, who they claimed had failed township dwellers.

Hundreds of demonstrators started walking from Salt River to Keizersgracht in the Cape Town CBD, where the march was originally meant to start, according to the permit the city issued them.

A large contingent of police, metro police, and traffic officers followed the protesters. The Congress of SA Trade Unions and SA Students' Congress supported the march.

Last week, Zille agreed to accept the memorandum, on condition the ANCYL retracted its statements on making the city "ungovernable".

A row of policemen wielding shields, helmets, and crowd control equipment blocked the legislature doors. Asked whether their firearms were loaded with live ammunition, an officer said "no".

A police helicopter hovered overhead, and five police vans were parked alongside the legislature. One of them contained extra bulletproof vests.

In notices the city advised business people to lock up their stores if trouble occurred.

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- SAPA