Nine held for poo politics at airport

NINE people will appear in court for dumping human waste in the departure terminal at Cape Town International Airport.

Lieutenant-Colonel Andre Traut said they would appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court today. They were charged under the National Key Points Act, as the airport was a key point.

The Cape Times reported yesterday that two of the men arrested were ANC members already facing party disciplinary action for a similar offence.

One of the men said they took their protest to the airport to send a message to the UN.

“We wanted them to know our people have been living with uncleaned toilets that are filled up for three months,” he said. “We want the UN and these so-called environmentalists to know the city does not care about the health of black people.”

Pretending to be passengers, the group carried plastic bags containing human waste to the departures terminal, said acting airport spokeswoman Deborah Francis.

“It happened within seconds. They threw it, jumped back into their cars and sped off,” she said. They were caught by the police.

ANC provincial spokesman Phillip Dexter said such behaviour was unacceptable and that the party condemned it without reservation.

“This disgusting, pseudo-militancy is nothing more than anarchy, displaying a lack of political or revolutionary consciousness or maturity.

“If any ANC member is found to be involved in this criminal behaviour, they will face the swift disciplinary action of the organisation,” he said. — Sapa