Police are third force behind protests, say
informal traders
24 June 2014 16:46
The SA Police Service was the “third force” behind
the hawkers’ protests in the Pretoria CBD, Tshwane informal traders have said.
“The SAPS are the third force, they were working
with members of Tshwane Barekisi Forum harassing our traders,” Tshwane National
African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Vincent Matjeng
said.
Representatives of four different informal trader
organisations held a joint press briefing in Pretoria today.
Matjeng said members of informal trader
organisation Tshwane Barekisi Forum made death threats against him.
“Barekisi Forum members made death threats against
me … We are going to protect what is ours, you will see violence, trader
against trader,” said Matjeng.
“My surname means stone, when you throw me into the
river, I create waves.”
Several businesses closed in Pretoria last week as
protesting hawkers wielding sjamboks and sticks marched in the city.
The protesting traders also wanted metro police to
act against an officer they accused of shooting dead one of their colleagues in
January.
The forum alleged that Foster Jan Rivombo, a
vegetable seller, was shot dead for refusing to hand his stock over to Tshwane
metro police.
Tshwane Barekisi Forum chairperson Shoes Maloka
said the four informal trader organisations were pushing the mayor’s agenda in
return for jobs.
“They are pushing the mayor’s agenda, the mayor
rewards them with jobs, we are not a violent organisation, we are fighting for
hawkers’ rights,” said Maloka.
He said they were planning to protest again next
month.
Efforts to get comment from Pretoria central police
station spokesperson Sergeant Anne Poortman were unsuccessful.
- Sapa
