30 March 2021

Your below email refers.

In terms of our law, the right to protest is regulated by Section 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996, as amended, which states that “Everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions.”  Anything that falls short of the above provision warrants an intervention of the law enforcement agencies.

We can confirm that the protest that was planned for the 11th and 12th of March 2021 ended up with arrests being made and that cases were opened and registered with the South African Criminal Administration System. The South African Police Service (“SAPS”) are running this case and investigations are currently underway.

Accordingly, any further comments or information in this regard can be directed to the relevant SAPS Station dealing with this matter.

We trust you find the above in order.