Pravin ‘poo protesters’ face criminal complaint
A KWAZULU-NATAL civic organisation will be bringing criminal complaints against “poo protesters” who disrupted an event at which former finance minister Pravin Gordhan was scheduled to speak.
Gordhan was invited by the Concerned Citizens Group (CCG) of KwaDukuza‚ on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast‚ to address guests at a fundraising event on Sunday.
However‚ before Gordhan arrived at the venue‚ protesters dumped buckets of faeces at the entrance to the venue.
CCG chairman Haroon Mohammedy said they could not identify who left the faeces.
“The protesters or demonstrators had gathered about 100 metres from the hall before making their way towards the venue,” Mohammedy said.
“When Mr Gordhan was on the podium‚ a more violent attempt to enter the premises was made by the protesters.
“They broke down the roll-up shutter door and gained access into the kitchen.” Mohammedy said they vandalised the area‚ stole refreshments‚ hurled cold drinks at volunteers‚ overturned pots of food that were prepared in the cooking area in another part of the hall‚ intimidated staff of the catering company‚ and stole some of their personal effects.
“Mr Gordhan had to curtail his speech‚ as he had an early flight to Johannesburg,” Mohammedy said. “As there was concern about his and his wife’s safety‚ his bodyguard whisked them away.”
Mohammedy said that protesters‚ who wore ANC T-shirts‚ carried placards which read: “PG – a sellout of the struggle” and “ANC is better off without traitors”.