DA Gets Green Light to proceed with 'March for REAL jobs'

The DA is pleased to announce that the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court has overturned the decision of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to prohibit the DA from marching to Luthuli House. This is a victory for every South African's constitutional right to assemble, demonstrate and picket.

The DA will use this opportunity to expose the ANC's promise of six million "work opportunities" as nothing more than temporary public works placements, and contrast it with the six million REAL jobs that the DA will create if it is elected to national government.

We are still waiting to receive the court judgement, but we have been informed that the DA's application to march complied with all the provisions of the Regulation of Gatherings Act.

Due to the JMPD's initial prohibition of the march, and our subsequent legal appeal, we have had to delay the march which was originally planned for tomorrow, Tuesday 4 February 2014.

We now have to re-apply for permission to march at a future date. Given the judgement of the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court, we anticipate no further obstacles from the JMPD.

We note President Zuma's pronouncement yesterday that political violence is unacceptable, and his reaffirmation of the constitutional right to protest legally and peacefully. We trust that President Zuma will send this message loud and clear to those in his party who insist on threatening violence.

The new date for the 'March for REAL Jobs' will be announced in due course.

Statement issued by James Selfe MP, Chairperson of the DA Federal Executive, February 3 2014

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