Solidarity and division at pro-Palestinian protest

A pro-Palestinian protest supported by Khoisan groups in Observatory last Friday was as much a show of solidarity as it was of division.

Representatives from the indigenous groups were among over a hundred people who gathered outside the River Club development, on the corner of Liesbeek Parkway and Observatory Road.

While the protesters appeared united in their support for Palestine, holding up signs saying “Save our Sacred Lands,” “Free Palestine Free Gaza,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” the Khoisan groups, who are divided over their support for or opposition to the River Club development, gathered separately.

The River Club site, which is next to the Two Rivers Urban Park, is undergoing a R4.6 billion mixed-used development of office blocks, shops, flats and an indigenous-culture centre. Construction started in July 2021, and the development is due to have e-commerce multinational Amazon as an anchor tenant (“Final chapter in River Club battle,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, July 6).

The protest was organised by civil society groups together with Save our Sacred Lands, a coalition of Khoisan groups opposed to the River Club development.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been staged in several countries following Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas militants massacring more than 1200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 200 hostages, including children and the elderly.

Israel’s strikes on Gaza have so far killed more than 14 500 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Referring to the site of the River Club development, Save our Sacred Lands convenor Tauriq Jenkins tried to draw parallels between it and what was happening in Gaza.

“This is also our site of liberation and existence; this is a historical site that speaks to dispossession and land theft,” he said.

Mr Jenkins was part of an indigenous group that, together with the Observatory Civic Association, mounted an unsuccessful court battle to stop the River Club development, which is going ahead with the support of another indigenous group, the Western Cape First Nations Collective.

Princess Charne du Preez, from the Griqua Royal Council of the Eastern Cape, said the tribe wanted to show its support for the Palestinians because they had supported the anti-apartheid struggle.

“This land that we are currently standing on has never been surrendered; it was occupied and is still occupied today," she said.

“We are not only freeing Palestine, but Palestine is freeing us from divisions created by colonialism, divisions of religion and divisions of race."

However, up on a small hill about 40 metres away from the main body of protesters in Observatory Road, members of the Western Cape First Nations Collective - the indigenous group that has backed the River Club development - had mustered to show their support - separately - for the Palestinians.

The group’s spokesman, Chief Zenzile Khoisan, said they rejected injustices everywhere in the world.

“One of the greatest injustices in the world is against Palestine" he said. "We believe they should be free and that they deserve self-determination."

He added: “Here at the River Club, we found our place of anchorage and right of return in one place, and we believe that the right of return for Palestinian people must be secured."

The protest also included representatives from various faith-based groups.

Imam Rashied Omar, from the Claremont Main Road Mosque, said Palestinians faced the same struggle as South Africa's indigenous people.

“One of the sad realities we see with the struggle of the Palestinian people is that Jews who were persecuted have now become the oppressors,” he said.

South African Jews for a Free Palestine member Megan Choritz said she supported the call for peace and an end to Zionism.

"I am strongly anti-Zionism and I am pro-Palestine and I am in support of the pro-Palestine movement towards liberation."

A member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Abeedah Adams said solidarity should also be shown with African refugees and those fighting for workers' rights and basic services.

"If we want to say we stand with the people of Palestine, we must live it and practice it."