26 July 2009

The Inkatha Freedom Party has threatened to blockade the Early Morning Market next Friday to prevent the eThekwini Municipality from shutting it down. The IFP said this following the Municipality's decision to close down the market on 31 July.

"First we want to register our protests against the harassment of the traders and the market workers by the Metro Police. Above that, we are here to express our indignation since many families who make a living out of the Early Morning Market are threatened with joblessness and hunger because of the Municipal decision to close down this market on the 31st July," said Joshua Mazibuko, eThekwini IFP's Deputy Secretary amidst applause from hundreds of IFP members in today's rally at Albert Park in Durban, which was also attended by some  traders and workers from the market, including the Chairman of the Early Morning Market Association, Harry Ramlall.

"Let us together write a public letter to the Mayor and his Council. Our letter demands that the Mayor must put a stop to all acts of harassment against the traders and workers at the Early Morning Market.

"Secondly, he must halt all municipal steps to shut down the market on the 31st July. We call for a moratorium on all such steps because there are negotiations which are being overseen by a 3-MEC Committee that was appointed by the Premier, Dr Zweli Mkhize. Let those negotiations run their course first before any step could be taken on the Market.

"Why does the Municipality want to go ahead and close down the market and build the Mall while there are negotiations? What otherwise is the purpose of the 3-MEC Committee? Or, is the Municipality employing the well-known ANC tactic of fooling citizens into expressing their views on a subject while they have already taken a decision? Are they relying on their well-known ploy of using their majority either in Parliament or in the Municipal Council to foist their decisions on the citizens? 

"If they intend doing so because they rely on using their numerical strength in the Council, let it be known that our strength lies in the multitudes of ordinary residents of eThekwini. If they persist, we will meet them on the 31st of July. Those who will be coming to close down the market will have to walk over us as they proceed to the gates," said Mazibuko amidst ululation and cheers.

For Further Information:

M. Joshua Mazibuko

IFP Deputy Secretary                            072 927 0993