JOHANNESBURG Youths from a South African pressure group AfriForum, on Tuesday dragged world soccer governing body, FIFA and the FIFA 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) to that countrys Human Rights Commission over protest bans during the world soccer showpiece, which begins Friday.
Afriforum Youths wanted to launch protest action against farm murders on June 10, during the bail hearing of local men accused of murdering Potchefstroom farmer Johan Strydom by dragging him alive behind a bakkie.
They were however, blocked by Potchefstroom Municipality, which turned down their application this week.
The youths then submitted a formal complaint against Fifa and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2010 Soccer World Cup at the head office of the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Johannesburg Tuesday morning, after a letter addressed to AfriForum Youth stated that FIFA and the LOC imposed a moratorium on protest actions during the Soccer World Cup.
The moratorium is contrary to section 17 of the Constitution which enshrines our right to hold peaceful protests, said Ernst Roets, AfriForum Youths National Chairman.
The case we want to protest about deals with the most gruesome form of violence. It is unacceptable that our rights in this regard are violated because of a sports event.
Afriforum said that, in light of the violation of its youths right to protest, the organisation will next week release a minidocumentary on farm murders internationally in the coming week.
The documentary will deal with farm murders in South Africa and Peter Mokabas role in these murders. AfriForum Youth will specifically object to the fact that a soccer stadium was named after Peter Mokaba, even though he encouraged racial violence and farm murders in South Africa and influence the government to deny the existence of HIV/Aids, said Roets.
Post published in: News