In Cape Town, South Africa, there was a protest today on one of the city’s most popular beaches because private security officials had previously told black beach visitors to leave.
The security guards, who had been hired by residents of tourist-beloved Clifton 4th Beach, had ousted the tourists from the beach. The incident that occurred last Sunday shows just how much the decades of apartheid are still present in the country. At that time, among other things, beaches and public spaces were segregated into white and black people.
Targeted against blacks?
Demonstrators accused the security firm, according to the BBC, that it would have been aimed primarily at black beach visitors. The security firm denied that they had shut down the beach and emphasized that the staff was only there to protect residents from criminals.
Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the beach was a public good and private security companies should not ask anyone to leave. Vice Minister of the Interior Bongani Mkongi announced a „crackdown“ against the security firm. „We do not need security companies on public land.“
Police contradict boss of the security firm
Mayor Plato emphasized that security guards called on „people of all colors“ to leave the sandy beach. The protesters saw it differently. „These private security guards … are instructed, black people who look like they’re coming from the townships to the beach, can not let up,“ criticized activist Chumani Maxwele.
Alwyn Landman, head of the criticized security firm PPA, said the police had cleared the site after a crime had been committed. Police, according to the BBC, said they have no reports of criminal activity on the beach.
