Cape Town, South Africa – Tens of thousands of South Africans marched in the capital city, Cape Town, outside the parliamentary building, to protest against Israel’s attacks on Gaza and to urge their government to take diplomatic action.
Protesters also called on the South African government to boycott Israel, and to expel the Israeli ambassador from the southern most African country’s shores.
A number of well-known personalities attended the march, including Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former anti-apartheid hero Ahmed Kathrada and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu offered a prayer. Jews are not the enemy, they are God’s children but Zionism is a question that calls for justice, Tutu told the gathering.
South Africa’s most celebrated cartoonist, Jonathan Shapiro [centre with placard] also joined the march with other Jews from the Cape Town community.
Ahmed Kathrada, a lifetime friend of Nelson Mandela and a Robben Island prisoner, joined the hundreds of thousands of marchers for Gaza in Cape Town.
Marchers walked through the centre of Cape Town.
It was estimated that more than 100,000 people participated in the march although City of Cape Town authorities said that about 40,000 attended.
Young and old carried slogans declaring solidarity with Gazans.
Cape Townians wore their support in a fashion reminiscent of the city’s colourful carnival history.
The marchers unfurled a large Palestinian flag which they carried as they walked through the city.
Activists and observers said they had not seen as many protesters since the time of protests marches in the city during the struggle for democracy 20 years ago. Despite contested numbers of marchers, the city was brought to a standstill.
