ANCYL gets new vigil venue

2011-10-26 19:24

Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League will hold its night vigil at the Caledonian Stadium in Pretoria ahead of the planned economic freedom march to the Union Buildings, it said on Wednesday.

"The mass action will continue as planned and all systems are in place," the league said in a statement.

It was forced to find a new venue after Tshwane metro police denied permission to hold a vigil outside the Union Buildings on Thursday night, due to security concerns. The presidency also declined because the Union Buildings was classified as a national key point.

However, permission was granted for the youth league to march to the Union Buildings on Friday morning to hand a memorandum to the presidency.

The ANCYL initially planned to hold a night vigil on Thursday at the Union Buildings, and then present the memorandum on Friday morning. Marchers would now have to spend the night at the stadium in Pretoria, then go to the Union Buildings.

The presidency said permission for the Friday march was granted, provided the ANCYL took full responsibility for the actions of participants.

"The presidency will be available to accept the memorandum from the leaders of the march on Friday," spokesperson Harold Maloka said.

Tshwane metro police were ready to escort marchers, spokesperson Console Tleane said.

A number of intersections along Nelson Mandela Drive would be closed on Thursday. There would be road closures on Beatrix, Hamilton and Leyds streets.

Youth league members were expected to march from Beyers Naude Square to the Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton, and then to Pretoria.

On Monday, league leader Julius Malema said over 5 000 members were expected to participate.

There would be 1 000 youth league marshals, 500 police officers as well as private security company members to ensure the march was peaceful, he said.

- SAPA