EFF ‘must pay up in 21 days’ – as City of Cape Town opens R1.4m lawsuit

The City of Cape Town has come down hard on the EFF and other protest groups – and they are now seeking damages for the destruction of public property. Both the Red Berets and Gatvol Capetonian have been named in the civil suit, which seeks to reclaim R1.4 million from those leading a series of contentious demonstrations.

Why is the City of Cape Town seeking damages from the EFF?

Although a large chunk of this lawsuit is aimed at Gatvol Capetonian, the EFF has been flagged for protests in Brackenfell last year. Party supporters descended upon a school in the town – following a row about race – and their presence disrupted the region for weeks. Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato, however, hasn’t forgotten about the damage left behind:

“The EFF has 21 days to make payment into the City’s bank account or face a summons, which will also include a claim for legal costs to recover the funds, plus interest. Meanwhile, a summons was issued to Gatvol Capetonian on 29 March for over R1.3 million in damages – related to a “shut down” of major routes in Cape Town in August 2019.”

“EFF members damaged traffic lights at several intersections, set fire to a vacant field, and damaged public vehicles including a fire engine. A total amount of R87 312.25 is being sought from the EFF to cover the costs of infrastructure repair and fire-fighting suggest equipment.” | Dan Plato

Gatvol Capetonian protesters facing hefty bills

The sum dished out to the EFF isn’t as eye-watering as the one coming for Gatvol Capetonian, mind. Their ‘organised shutdown’ on major routes into the Mother City (back in August 2019) cost COCT a pretty penny – leaving several communities battered and bruised from the chaos of the protests:

• – Ocean View (Kommetjie): The region incurred the costliest damage, racking up a bill of R361 953.
• – Atlantis: This outlier of the COCT municipality was left worse-off by R336 946.
• – Grassy Park: The neighbourhood saw infrastructure damaged to the tune of R311 760.
• – Ocean View (Milky Way Road): Violent protests lead to a repair bill of R170 000.
• – Mitchells Plain and Kensington: Cumulative damages have been filed for R100 000.

EFF told to meet COCT deadline

The City has previously won R1.5 million from a civil claim, successfully forcing Sawatu to pay up in 2012. Although no deadline has been set for Gatvol Capetonian, the EFF has just three weeks to transfer the funds – or face further action.

“Destroying infrastructure is not an acceptable form of protest, nor is shutting down major routes and disrupting the lives of law-abiding residents. In South Africa, we need to draw the line on the rule of law, that is why we are holding these groupings – of the EFF and Gatvol Capetonian – accountable for their actions to the tune of R1.4 million.”

“It is disappointing when political organisations cause harm to community infrastructure and damage critical assets that are installed to uplift communities. The City is committed to providing resources to all communities but this becomes difficult when there are individuals working against social cohesion as seen through their acts of destruction.”

Dan Plato