Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia is going to court Thursday to challenge the Johannesburg Metro Police Department ban on its planned march in the city.
“Last week, our march against xenophobia that was due to take place on Human Rights Day (Monday 21 March) was prohibited by the Joburg Metro Police,” said the group on Wednesday.
“The reasons given by Joburg Metro Police Department, as set out in a previous release, were based on the intimidation and threats against our march being issued by Operation Dudula.”
While the Johannesburg Human Rights Day march was banned, the Cape Town anti-xenophobia went ahead.
Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia also blamed “fake social media posts sent out by Operation Dudula, containing falsified information designed to target so-called ‘illegal’ immigrants as well as threaten and intimidate our movement”.
The group said with the assistance of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute, it has approached the courts with an urgent application to overturn the prohibition.
“We are now able to confirm that the hearing will take place tomorrow, Thursday 24 March, at the Johannesburg High Court,” said the group.
“Due to the unavailability of SERI advocate Jason Brickhill on the day, we are pleased to announce that Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC has agreed to argue the case for the march to be allowed to go ahead on this coming Saturday 26th.”
