People flock to the Muizenberg Bach protests over the weekend. Photo: Twitter/@JaquesR
Video Essay: Watch how Muizenberg protesters ‘reclaimed’ the sea and sand
Social media users who were present at the Muizenberg Beach protest this past weekend, took to Twitter to share images and videos as the action unfolded. Have a look at our compilation of footage circulating.
People flock to the Muizenberg Bach protests over the weekend. Photo: Twitter/@JaquesR
Over the weekend, scores of people gathered at Muizenberg Beach, in direct contravention of the Level 3 lockdown laws. Locals, who are fed up with the current restrictions, which forbid visits to the seaside, entered the water to swim, while others brought their surfboards and flip flops along with them.
The mass act of civil disobedience on Saturday 30 January, followed by another protest in Langebaan on Sunday 31 January, is one of the clearest demonstrations against any lockdown law we’ve seen in the past 10 months. But, it wasn’t long before public order officers showed up.
A video compilation of the Muizenberg protests
Social media users who were present at the protest took to Twitter to share images and videos of the day’s happenings. TimesLive reported that a police commander was outflanked by protester Sven Jensen, who asked him to define a beach. Jensen claimed most Capetonians live on the beach. “Since there’s sand in our gardens, we all live on sand. Please define the word,” he said.
Then, protesters streamed onto the beach led by a man with a thin, braided ponytail, who assumed a meditative posture in front of a police officer at the edge of the surf.
“I feel that the beaches should not be closed because the sea is essential for all of us,” he said. “Closing the beach is in contravention of our basic human rights and it also tramples on our freedom of movement.”
Police officers with riot shields, batons and stun grenades began to move in on the crowd who stripped off into swimwear but soon had to retreat as their equipment was not made for dispersing “scantily clad women and children”.
Meanwhile, Aron Hyman shared a tweet of a man who refused to leave the water until police confiscated his shirt, flip flops, and cell phone. After demanding that it be returned he was handed back his belongings. He stormed off angrily.
MASS PROTESTS AGAINST LEVEL 3 LOCKDOWN LAWS
Earlier this month, the ANC government declared that all beaches outside of the Northern Cape must be closed to visitors, in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19.
In recent weeks, the number of new infections has declined dramatically, and the pressure on hospitals has also eased. Those in attendance at the Muizenberg protests say they’ve “waited long enough”.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma raised further controversy in January when she made an amendment to the regulations which redefined ‘the boundaries of a beach’, limiting access to businesses and coastal paths ‘within 100 metres of the high watermark’. However, the cohort of Capetonians taking a stand on Saturday have sent out a clear message to Cabinet.
It wasn’t long after another beach protest occurred in Langebaan.
