City’s plan for march threat

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Zara Nicholson Metro Writer POLICE reinforcements are being drafted in from Pretoria and medical services placed on full standby in the face of a “threat of in excess of 200 000” protesters marching on the Cape Town city centre on Friday.

According to an internal memorandum distributed to provincial emergency services staff, which the Cape Times has seen, teams are gearing up for the march, which has been declared a “prohibited event”.

The memo’s contents were confirmed by provincial head of disaster medicine and special events, Dr Wayne Smith.

It states that intelligence has been gathered by various agencies which suggests that march organisers have been mobilising people from Khayelitsha, Dunoon, Wallacedene and Brown’s farm in Philippi.

Residents from informal settlements in Stellenbosch and Paarl are also believed to be joining the march.

The memorandum states that “looting has been encouraged at the planning meetings that have been taking place in the informal settlements. Organisers have suggested that food and Christmas presents will be easily available in the CBD for

the marchers. "Intimidation will take place to prevent people from going to work on Friday - and force them to rather take part in the march… the youth are… being mobilised to march," the memo says.

Authorities are taking seriously threats that the number of marchers will be much higher than at last month's march, which caused chaos with looting and destruction of private property.

The group that led last month's 3 000-strong march have warned business owners to close their stores as they plan to march despite permission having been declined.

The memo says police and emergency services teams will set up joint operating centres to be active from 4am on Friday.

Police have requested additional forces, which are expected to arrive in Cape Town today from Pretoria.

Crime intelligence, law enforcement and emergency services have also gathered information which says that Codeta may assist marchers and that there is a risk of blockages on the N2 and N7 by means of taxi blockades.

Protesters are expected to travel by train, disembark at Salt River station and march to the city centre.

"It is an internal process to get emergency medical services prepared," Smith said.

The memo also stated that if the march turned violent, injuries would have an impact on hospitals. Staff were also notified that "mass casualty resources" have to be checked and ready for deployment.

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