Court allows March and March to protest only after November 7

The Durban High Court has allowed March and March to continue protesting, but ordered the movement to suspend demonstrations during next week’s local government elections.

The police had initially sought a two-week suspension, arguing that it needed to preserve police manpower to maintain public safety and secure the elections.

Judge Peter Olson ordered that demonstrations must be peaceful, with no violence, intimidation, looting, property damage, weapons or face coverings.

Protests must take place between 9am in the morning and 3pm in the afternoon when demonstrations are allowed to resume on the 7th of November.

The parties are due back in court on the 18th of January to present arguments on a final order.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has urged the movement’s supporters to respect the court’s decision but to go out in their numbers to vote.