Today’s March Called Off - But Rally May Go Ahead

Alert! Following SATAWU’s destructive march through Cape Town’s CBD on Tuesday, today’s COSATU march - which was to have included members of SATAWU - has been called off by the city.

The trade unions have agreed to abide by the ban, but are also planning to stage a rally at an as-yet-undecided place somewhere in the city confines.
If the rally goes ahead, as it most likely will, there’s a slim chance of a repeat of Tuesday’s rampage, although the city has called in more police to handle any trouble.

What this means for city visitors is - keep your eyes and ears open for strike-related trouble. If you hear loud singing - normally one of the most moving aspects of a march to Parliament, and well worth taking in - it might be a prelude to a melee. Watch what the locals are doing, and if there’s a rush to take cover, join them! Or - to avoid any possible trouble altogether - delay your visit to Cape Town’s normally peaceful CBD by one day. Why not visit the V&A Waterfront instead?