The Non Protest Protest

Farrel — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:22:00 -0500

Folks, it’s reading an article like this that actually makes me look back on the violent SATAWU riots of late last year with some affection because at least those were actual protests, not some tip toe down the streets angst fest happening tomorrow:

For the march to take place, organisers agreed to rules laid down by the Tshwane Metro Council.
These include no anti-government slogans, no wearing of official uniforms, no covering of faces with balaclavas, bandanas or caps, and no stopping at intersections.

AAC founder Vinnete Ebrahim said while the organisation was not pandering to any form of censorship and would ultimately not stop anyone with anti-government banners, they wanted to keep the issue of crime at the forefront.

“It is something the Metro Police and AAC agreed upon.

“This was because we felt that when one uses anti-government slogans it allows for hate speech which could easily lead to racism.”

I guess we can expect a level of PC-ness from the Artists Against Crime but that’s just taking things a little bit too far. It’s a bit of a jump from allowing anti-government slogans to having the AWB takeover the protest.

This is pretty indicative of the way the ANC has managed to frame any debate about government: ‘If you criticise government, you’re a racist’. They’ve used that canard for years in parliament when it comes to critics of government, particularly the DA. That’s not particularly healthy for discourse and debate.

And to make it worse here’s a nice bit of thoughtcrime policing from Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson William Baloyi:

As Metro Police we do not approve any gathering or march that is against the spirit of the constitution, which includes a gathering used as a platform for hate speech, illegal activities, incitement to violence or which may be offensive to the broader community.

No laws have to be broken, it just has to be against the ‘spirit of the constitution’. I know the myth of true freedom of speech in SA was shattered during the whole Mohammed cartoon fiasco, but it’s always nice to get a reminder about it from the cops.

Update: Here’s a prime example of an ANC politician playing the ‘racist!’ card.

Speeding minister wants ‘racist’ whistle-blower found
KwaZulu-Natal’s transport minister on Tuesday again justified his convoy’s recent speeding and called for the name of the “racist” motorist who filmed it.

“He is a self-made, arrogant, non-accountable individual who purports to be a good citizen and I will dare to argue that he is also a racist,” said Bheki Cele in a statement.
He said the motorist who had used his cellphone to film Cele’s convoy speeding at 160km/h had broken the law. The Witness newspaper, which ran the story in April, has refused to reveal the name of its source.

"The Non Protest Protest" by Farrel

Fri, 04 May 2007 07:08:14 -0500

I think to get the royal flush Cele would have had to throw in at least a ‘Neo-colonialist’.

"The Non Protest Protest" by Inyoka

Fri, 04 May 2007 05:51:40 -0500

The R word, the royal flush of African politics.

Politics.za: The Non Protest Protest

The Non Protest Protest

"The Non Protest Protest" by Farrel

"The Non Protest Protest" by Inyoka