‘Rebellion of the poor’ at the root of protests

SOUTH Africa has been dubbed the “protest capital of the world”. Since 2008, more than 2 million people have taken to the streets in protest every year. Black folk make up about 98% of these protests, which are for a myriad reasons, but mostly they are a “rebellion of the poor”. Protests have become more violent and disruptive.

The July 2021 riots in Durban cost over 300 lives and billions of rand in damages.

In March 1994, about 20000 IFP supporters marched to Shell House (then ANC headquarters) in protest against the 1994 elections. Guards opened fire, killing 19 people. The shooting was unjustified.

In Senekal, white farmers stormed a court building, overturned a police van and set it alight. They were protesting the brutal murder of white farmer, Brendin Horner, by two blacks. Police fired stun grenades to disperse the protesters. The ANCYL threatened the protesters that they would “be given a war if they wanted it”. A 31-year-old white farmer, Andre Pienaar, was later arrested and charged.

The above just proves that all protesters are treated alike and that white protesters, compared to blacks, are few and far between.