Gordhan warns against KZN ‘intolerance’
FORMER minister of finance Pravin Gordhan said the “poo and stone-throwing” incidents that had prevented him from speaking at an event in KwaDukuza, north of Durban, yesterday were indicative of intolerance of the rights of others. He had been invited by the Concerned Citizens Group to be a guest speaker at a fundraising event, but local ANC Youth League (ANCYL) members were angered by his presence.
Earlier in the day, two men had dumped two buckets of faeces at the entrance to the Stanger Siva Sungum hall before Gordhan arrived.
The secretary of an ANCYL branch in KwaDukuza, Lucky Mbokazi, said they had organised 10 minibus taxis to bring supporters to disrupt the event.
Mbokazi said their members had dumped the faeces as a sign of protest against the building of a mall in the informal settlement, it was not specifically aimed at the former finance minister. However, protesters carried placards that referred to Gordhan.
Gordhan said protesters had attempted to break down the door to the hall while he was seated on the stage.
“People have a right to meet and a fundamental right to hold a discussion. This was sheer intimidation.
“This was intolerance of the highest order. People can’t mobilise on the basis of intolerance. People have the right to do what they want to do,” he said.
In the initial chaos there was panic inside the hall as stones were thrown at the building. Organisers introduced Gordhan but before his speech a door was broken and protesters threw food.