Right2Know Campaign

Statement: Combating Repression and Police Brutality during the COVID-19 lock down

by · Published · Updated

R2K  Western Cape  is joining the national day of action planned by the working class to condemn the ill treatment the working class have been receiving during the lockdown.

COVID-19 pandemic on its own is a national disaster that came with its own problems.  Poor communities from the Western Cape have been facing challenges over the period of the lockdown. From violent and unlawful evictions to food insecurity, poor communities had to sustain themselves. 

Police brutality and Repression: 

Our government responded by deploying the army and police to control communities during level 5. We continued to see acts of police brutality and repression throughout the lockdown. According to police Minister Bheki Cele 49 cases of police brutality have been reported since the start of the lockdown. Minister also told the MPs that eight police officers have been shot and killed during the same period, also stating that the police have acted within the law and Constitution, when at least 10 people died in the hands of law enforcement.

The Right2Know Campaign strongly condemns the act of repression and police brutality.

On Saturday 01 August we will be protesting outside five police stations in the Western Cape from 9AM: 

  1. Khayelitsha Police Station 
  2. Mitchells Plain Police Station 
  3. Delft Police Station 
  4. Nyanga Police Station 
  5. Lutzville Police Station in the West Coast

Our demands:

  • We demand that police should stop using brutality and live ammunition during protests
  • We demand that law enforcement stop brutalizing citizens during evictions 
  • We demand that police should wear name tags and be identifiable at all times 
  • We demand that public order police should do their job and protect protesters during protests
  • We demand that the police should stop responding with brutality during protest instead of clamping down on activists police should give their attention to high incidents of gender based violence 
  • Police officers who violate citizens’ rights must be brought to book 

For more information contact:

Nomacebo Mbayo, R2K Western Cape Organizer: 078 762 6013

Joyce Malebo, R2K Western  Coordinator: 067 035 5494

Bravo Thompson,  WC Working Group Member: 073 754 7116

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