The New Age: Protests promised over arrest

http://www.thenewage.co.za/54451-1010-53-Protests_promised_over_arrest

Protests promised over arrest

Dudu Dube

The Democratic Left Front, Abahlali Basemjondolo and the Unemployed People’s Movement, have promised a massive protest outside the Umlazi Magistrate’s Court when activist Bheki Buthelezi appears today.

“We are planning to occupy the ward councillor’s office while we demand these charges be dropped,” said Abahlali’s Mnikelo Ndabankulu.

The three organisations spent Saturday protesting outside the Umlazi police station after Buthelezi was arrested for intimidation. The charge of intimidation was laid against him by ward councillor Nomzamo Mkhize, who he has been at loggerheads with about community development programmes.

Buthelezi is a community leader in Ward 88 at Umlazi, a community that has been pestering the local municipality, demanding they be allocated land to start gardens and other community development projects.

Two weeks ago Buthelezi led the Ward 88 residents through Umlazi’s streets in an illegal march against unemployment.

On Saturday afternoon, Buthelezi was granted R500 ba