By: Sandile Zikhali

More than 300 people from different civil unions and organisations took to the streets of Durban for the anti-corruption march on Wednesday.

The march was one of the three protests that were happening in three of the major cities in South Africa, including Cape Town and Pretoria.

Joanne Adams, march organiser from the Right to Know campaign, said that they (together working with other several organisation) decided to have this match to express their concerns
regarding corruption in this country.

“It’s about time that the people are taken seriously, we have to root out corruption,” Adams explained.

“The money that is supposed to aid and help the needy doesn’t get to them, people are fed up and we are saying enough is enough,” added Adams.

The organisers further explained that corruption affects everyone and anyone regardless of their social status.

Hajira Vahed-Greer, speaking on behalf of the Artists United Against Corruption KZN, said that their committee has been busy trying to raise awareness for this and other upcoming
marches.

“We have had seminars before to mobilise people and also share ideas on how to combat corruption in the arts,” Vahed-Greer said.

The variety and diversity amongst the marchers that were making their way to deliver a memorandum to the EThekwini City council showed that corruption affects anyone and
everyone.

Organisations like Arise and Act, Aids Foundation, Unemployed People’s Movement, United Front (UF), Awethu KZN, Abahlali Basemjondolo and more were among the organisations
that came out to support the march.

Upon the handing and signing of the memorandum speakers from these organisations delivered speeches based on corruption in this country.

Kwa Zulu-Natal’s secretary of the UF, Sphokazi Mkhize said that corrupt officials should be accountable for their actions.

“If enough proof is found to pin anything on them, proper procedure should be followed so that they can pay back the money,” Mkhize voiced.

Touching on the violent protests that took place at Emhlabeni informal settlement, Phumlani

Zulu from Abahlali Basemjondolo taking to the streets is the only language that the government understands.

“After the protests, the municipality came to us and promised to start working on our demands,” Zulu said.

Joanne Adams said this march was a build up to a big one that they are planning to do sometime in November and they hoping these marches will bring change.