The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Western Cape issued a statement slamming the way police handled the beach protest on Saturday, specifically on Muizenberg Beach.
South Africans took to various beaches across the country on Satuday to protest the current lockdown regulations that prohibit beach-going as a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Protesters on Muizenberg Beach were criticised for lack of mask-wearing and social distancing, among other things. The members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) involved in breaking up the protest have also come under fire for the way the situation was handled. No fines were issued nor were any arrests made.
SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said: “On arrival, the police observed the situation and issued a warning to the group. Taking into account a number of variables, police monitored the situation for some time from a distance. After careful consideration of the situation at hand, the unit members peacefully removed the crowd from the beach with no incidents reported.”
The EFF Western Cape are now calling for the immediate suspension of the officers “who failed to enforce COVID-19 regulation,” said the political party. The EFF also want the City of Cape Town to be held accountable.
“EFF WC condemns the protests to open the beaches when COVID-19 cases are still on the rise in the province. We also condemn law enforcement officers who failed to enforce COVID-19 regulations. If the majority these protesters were black they would have been arrested and shot at,” said the EFF Western Cape.
Image: James Wiles/ @_jameswiles