Arrangements

Community Manual

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The following is a ten-step action plan for organising a local protest action for 19 May 2010.  The action plan is intended to simplify the arrangements for the event. Please make sure that all the steps are followed. The ten steps do not have to be followed exactly in the order set out below. Marketing, for example, must be done all the time to encourage people to get involved in the action. The requirements regarding the formalities to be followed may differ in each town or city. In some towns all the guidelines will apply, while in other towns only some of them will apply. In places where smaller groups will participate in the action, all the steps will not necessarily apply. These steps must therefore be used as a guideline only.

Step 1: Decide on a gathering place

• Decide where the people will assemble before they walk to the police station.
• The meeting point must be big enough to accommodate a group of people and must be situated close to the police station.
• There may be people who want to participate in the action, but who are unable to walk far.
• If the gathering place is on private property, obtain a letter authorising the gathering from the owner or the supervisor.
• The group does not have to walk to the police station. The people can assemble at the police station instead.

Step 2: Make arrangements with the relevant police station

• The police station where the memorandum will be handed over must be given notice of the planned action.
• The Solidarity Movement has already given the SAPS management notice of the planned action. The letter in question is available at www.crimeprotest.co.za and can be used to formulate a letter giving notice to the police station.
• The commander of the police station (or his/her delegate) must confirm by way of an official letter that he/she is aware of the planned action and that the station will arrange for a representative to take receipt of the memorandum.
• This letter of confirmation is needed in order for the action to be legal and must be handed in at the local municipality together with the application forms.

Step 3: Obtain permission from the local municipality

• Contact the local municipality and notify them of the planned protest action.
• Official application forms setting out the details of the day’s proceedings must be completed. These forms are obtainable from the municipality.
• Make sure that all the formalities are complied with thoroughly.
• It is not necessary to give an exact number regarding the number of people who will participate in the action. An estimate will be enough.
• Emphasise in the application form that the proceedings will be peaceful and will take place within the framework of the law.
• Provide the particulars of the police station where the memorandum will be handed over.
• The letter of the station commander (step 2) must be handed in with the application forms.
• If the people will assemble on private property, the letter of permission from the owner or supervisor (step 1) must be handed in as well.
• These forms must be submitted in full at least seven days before the planned action.
• REMEMBER: If all the requirements set out in the application forms are met, the application cannot be turned down without valid reasons. All citizens have a constitutional right to organise and participate in legal protest actions.
• If only a small group of people are involved, it may not be necessary to comply with all the formalities, but we want to be on the safe side.

Step 4: Find out if there are any other requirements

• Find out from the municipality and the police station if there are other requirements that have to be met in order for the action to be legal and official.
• Make sure that all the requirements are met.

Step 5: Attend the planning meeting

• A planning meeting must be held with the police and the local authorities.
• The itinerary for the protest action must be discussed at this meeting.
• The legal requirements (the do’s and don’ts) must also be discussed.
• Make sure that the meeting is attended and that all the requirements are met.

Step 6: Prepare the memorandum

• Prepare the memorandum that will be handed over.
• The memorandum will be available at www.crimeprotest.co.za.
• Put the memorandum in a neat and sturdy envelope.

Step 7: Arrange transport

• Arrange transport if necessary.
• If a large group is expected, it may be necessary to arrange bus transport.

Step 8: Make posters

• Make enough posters for the event.
• Proposals for slogans are available at www.crimeprotest.co.za.
• Draft posters will be available on the webpage for downloading.
• Slogans that are contrary to section 9(2) of the Constitution (i.e. hate speech, war propaganda, racism, et cetera) must not be permitted.
• The posters must be made with sturdy material, not ordinary paper.
• Make sure the posters look presentable.
• Remember that red is the colour for the day of protest. Red symbolises that we are tired of bloodshed.
• No other flags or banners must be displayed. The only agenda for the day is to protest against crime. We do not want any other agenda to overshadow this agenda.

Step 9: Market the protest action continually

• Make appointments with the local media and explain to them what the action is about and how the day’s events will proceed.
• Make sure that the media are provided with enough information before the event.
• Invite the media to the protest action.
• Act friendly and professionally towards the media at all times.
• A draft media statement will be available at www.crimeprotest.co.za.
• We would like at least one victim of crime to be present at every police station where a memorandum is handed over.
• The media would be interested in telling someone’s story. We want to show that crime affects real people.
• Ongoing marketing must be done.
• Local organisations and churches must be involved in the action.
• Try to use the red theme (“we are tired of bloodshed”).
• Involve local community safety actions and security companies in the action.
• Try to get well-known people in the community involved in the action.
• All the information you will need is available at www.crimeprotest.co.za.

Step 10: Make sure the action is characterised by responsible behaviour

• The protest action must take place in a responsible, disciplined manner.
• Do not allow any political agendas. The only agenda for the day is to protest against crime.
• Be careful of individuals who may subvert the whole action.
• The action should be kept short – from 12:00 to 14:00 or shorter – to make provision for people who take extended lunch breaks to participate in it.

Please keep us informed of the progress of your arrangements. We would like to publish it on the webpage. Send news to magdaleen@solidariteit.co.za.