The #JobsSaveLives movement that started across South Africa on Thursday, July 23 has taken the country by storm. Stakeholders in the hospitality and tourism industries have rallied together in a peaceful protest to plead with government to lift the ban on their economic activities.
The #JobsSaveLives is trending.
On Friday, the protest continued with police intervening. A group of protesters in front of the Parliament building were sprayed with water, and then later dispersed with stun grenades.
‘It was over very quickly, everybody was peaceful and maintained social distancing, the organizers even came with hand sanitizer,’ said Lizna Boshoff-Jacobs, a tour operator who participated in the protest.
Boshoff-Jacobs and her husband have not had any income during lockdown.
‘The police came, gave us a 10 min warning and then started with the water cannon and stun grenades like the end of my video. I stopped filming after this as we started to move away. Just heard that some of our fellow guides got arrested, just for standing peacefully with a sign.’
Protesters gathered outside Parliament.
Protesters in action.
Boshoff-Jacobs and her husband operate Cape Rebel Tours, but have not had any income since lockdown started. ‘Both me and my husband run it, so we have R0 income and have received R0 from government,’ she told Getaway.
Take a look at a video taken as police intervene:
Video by Lizna Boshoff-Jacobs pic.twitter.com/v9Vmf9hyme
— Anita Froneman (@anita_froneman) July 24, 2020
The City of Cape Town responded with a statement on Facebook. ‘It is unacceptable that a peaceful protest by business owners and employees fearing for the loss of their livelihoods, is met with water cannons and stun grenades. Reported claims from the SAPS members on the scene that “protests are not allowed under lockdown” does not hold water as several protests have been allowed outside parliament during lockdown without the use of such intimidation tactics,’ mayor Dan Plato said.
STATEMENT BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR, ALDERMAN DAN PLATO.
I am appalled at video footage showing the aggressive conduct of the…
Posted by City of Cape Town on Friday, 24 July 2020
Video and images: Lizna Boshoff-Jacobs
