The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were granted permission by the City of Cape Town to protest off the school grounds of Brackenfell High School on Friday, November 20. Only 100 members of the political party have been allowed to protest at the school which is under investigation for allegations of racism.
Planned for 10am, protesters and counter-protesters from groups such as the Cape Independent Party, local residents and police began setting up in the road alongside the high school.
We will bring you live updates of the events on the ground as they happen:
2.55pm: Police have told EFF members to leave the area. They have been given five minutes to disperse.
2.41pm: EFF members attack man for walking through crowd, police use stun grenades to calm crowd
Mayhem erupts as EFF members attack a white guy during Marshall Dlamini’s address. Teargas fired #EFFInBrackenfell
— Thabo Ntsako Baloyi (@Thabo_Baloyi_) November 20, 2020
@EFFSouthAfrica are beating up a white journalist #EFFInBrackenfell #brackenfellhigh #journalism #EFFRedFriday # pic.twitter.com/XIEGSQBTP7
— M⭕theoWaM⭕theo?? (@Motheo2009) November 20, 2020
When black people were beaten up by white racists where were these ANC useless police officers #EFFInBrackenfell #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/qjaYBwg9Nt
— ?Rakgadi?Soldier? (@BlackCulture_HM) November 20, 2020
2:30pm: Dlamini says racists, capitalists and white supremacists are the EFF’s enemy
EFF SG Marshall Dlamini says racists, white supremacists, capitalists are their enemies.
“We are not the children of Nelson Mandela; we are running a revolution.” @TeamNews24 #EFFinBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/6mgr1u8CMY— Tammy Petersen (@TammyPetersen87) November 20, 2020
13:59pm: EFF national leadership are addressing the crowd. Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini is expected to deliver the main speech
EFF national leadership addressing the masses #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/t916rSIJco
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) November 20, 2020
13:33pm: EFF Leadership preparing to address the crowd from their stage
#EFF leadership led by their secretary general Marshall Dlamini about to address the large crowd O supporters #EFFINBRACKENFELL #BRACKENFELLHIGH #eNCA pic.twitter.com/DIc15qlUxw
— Ronald Masinda (@RONALDMASINDA) November 20, 2020
12:39pm: Police ask for calm from protesters and have said they will allow 500 people to march to the school
A plea for calm near #BrackenfellHigh @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/lrzwgeut9o
— Jenni Evans (@itchybyte) November 20, 2020
It’s tense near #Brackenfell High School EFF members began marching to the school but were stopped by police who say only 500 protestors are allowed. More tear gas pic.twitter.com/jY8hOY8VaH
— Fahmida Miller (@FahmidaMiller) November 20, 2020
12:35pm: Police use teargas to disperse the large crowd
Secretary General @DlaminiMarshall giving direction on the program.
We are now marching to Brackenfell High School.
No surrender. No retreat #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/SNiD1M4CFB
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 20, 2020
12.24pm: EFF begin moving to Brackenfell High School
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 20, 2020
EFF Secretary General, Cmsr Marshall Dlamini addressing the EFF as we are preparing to mover to Brackenfell High #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/suiTMhm2Zx
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) November 20, 2020
12:20pm: EFF Secretary General Dlamini Marshall addresses protesters about the way forward. They plan to continue their march towards the high school
Secretary General @DlaminiMarshall giving direction on the program.
We are now marching to Brackenfell High School.
No surrender. No retreat #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/SNiD1M4CFB
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 20, 2020
11:46am: Police inform EFF that only 100 party members may stay
EFF SG Marshall Dlamini and spokesperson Vuyani Pambo speak to police. Dlamini wants to negotiate and for the group to be allowed to move forward under police watch. SAPS saying only 100 allowed. #EFFInBrackenfell @TeamNews24 pic.twitter.com/IZTTtZrbsW
— Tammy Petersen (@TammyPetersen87) November 20, 2020
11:19am: EFF members tell police “Today, we die here”
#EFFinBrackenfell#EFFRedFriday#EFFMustRise#Brackenfell https://t.co/DmmV1Ik9IF
— Johannes Ramokgopa (@ramokgopajl) November 20, 2020
11:14am: The crowd far surpasses 100 party members as permitted
South African Police who fear and are always pushed around by Colonial Settlers and racist thugs are shooting water cannons and using stan grenades at peaceful Fighters. #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/kmVFDIoSYe
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 20, 2020
11:04am: Party members form a human chain to protect others from police
The group of #EFFInBrackenfell is growing, supporters form a human chain to protect crowd from POPs. Public Order Police keep a tight boundary. SAPS chopper circling above. @etvNewsSA pic.twitter.com/wUDZThjMKo
— Natalie Malgas (@nataliemalgas) November 20, 2020
11am: Some EFF members are already injured
#brackenfellhigh #Brackenfellhighschool #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/E0rWn8WaAq
— #Stering #Voltz #Sereto (@voltz__za) November 20, 2020
10:57am: EFF members wait for party leader Julius Malema to address them
Hundreds of #EFF supporters are now getting ready to march to #Brackenfellhighschool where leader @Julius_S_Malema will address racism allegations pic.twitter.com/NirerQvXgZ
— Thabang Kuaho (@thab_journo) November 20, 2020
10:55am: EFF leadership arrive at the protest
Our Commissars have arrived in Brackenfell. We are going to stand toe-to-toe with racist white terrorists #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/w2eUAtxky5
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) November 20, 2020
10:50am: EFF members have regathered after initial dispersal by police. They are currently being blocked by officers in riot gear
After some stun grenades, EFF members have regrouped for their march to #Brackenfell high school. #effinbrackenfell @GroundUp_News pic.twitter.com/97m5iyOe9Q
— Ashraf Hendricks (@AshrafRSA) November 20, 2020
10:15am Police disperse a crowd who gathered a block away from the school
The @EFFSouthAfrica just gathered in #Brackenfell, Cape Town, and the situation already escalated. Police using water canons and tear gas, because the demonstrators moved a few meters away from their meeting point. More tonight on @dwnews pic.twitter.com/XYfpT7UEnd
— Adrian Kriesch (@adriankriesch) November 20, 2020
Racist police shoot stun grenades and water canons at peaceful protest in Brackenfell #EFFInBrackenfell pic.twitter.com/tMpSWXWwov
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) November 20, 2020
10:05am: A group of Christian worshippers have also arrived with rams horns and say they are praying for peace.
#Brackenfell: Dorea Gottardo bid hardop en blaas op ‘n ramshoring. Sy bid al heel week vir vrede. Sy ondersteun nie een van die partye hier nie en sê almal in SA moet na God draai vir vrede, moet ophou om in velkleure vas te kyk.@eNuus pic.twitter.com/jQ4xkahkQD
— NadineTheron (@NadineTheron) November 20, 2020
10:01am: Police set-up barbed wire barricade across the road outside the high school
#EFF #Brackenfell pic.twitter.com/6Yf7QWIl28
— EdnaJourna (@ECangolo) November 20, 2020
10:00am: EFF members begin to arrive in Brackenfell
EFF in Brackenfell pic.twitter.com/NCe4MRjcYG
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) November 20, 2020
9:45 am: Cape Party leader Jack Miller explained to IOL why they have decided to come set up a gazebo outside the school today
Cape Party leader, Jack Miller speaks about why the party is in #Brackenfell today.
Video: @PoswaGrant /@AfriNewsAgency #EFFInBrackenfell #brackenfellhighschool#EFF #brackenfell pic.twitter.com/cSPqavwjQ1— IOL News (@IOL) November 20, 2020
9:09 am: Jack Markovitz, who has come to join the protest with the EFF explains why he has come out today and identifies heavy private security presence outside of the school
Jack Markovitz, EFF member outside the Brackenfell High School says that the situation in Brackenfell is the same like every single white neighbourhood in the country, racism is instill in the bones of these people. @TimesLIVE @SowetanLIVE @EFFWesternCape_ @EFFSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/448oXMVomB
— Esa Alexander (@ezaap) November 20, 2020
8:00am: Unidentified men wearing all black put up flag with orange, blue and green V. Refuse to give explanation to the press
EFF in Brackenfell pic.twitter.com/NCe4MRjcYG
— EFF_Western Cape (@EFFWesternCape_) November 20, 2020
Picture: Twitter