The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has voiced strong opposition to the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and private security personnel during a peaceful protest in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. The demonstration, organized by the Hlokomela Women’s Support Organisation and the Lady Ocean SA Foundation, aimed to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and honor recent victims, including a seven-year-old girl known as “Cwecwe.”
According to reports, heavily armed SANDF members were stationed outside Bergview College, the intended destination for the marchers to deliver a memorandum of demands. The ANCYL described this military presence as an act of intimidation that disrupted the protest’s second phase at Matatiele City Hall. The league emphasized that the march was conducted legally and within the bounds of the law.
In response to these events, the ANCYL announced plans to file a formal complaint with relevant authorities, asserting that the deployment of military forces at a civilian protest is unwarranted and undermines democratic rights.
The protest was part of broader efforts to demand justice for GBV victims and to highlight systemic issues within local institutions. The presence of military and private security forces at such events raises concerns about the balance between maintaining public order and respecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly.
