Cape Town — Pro-Palestine supporters in Cape Town have expressed their anger over the city’s new graffiti by-laws, deeming it unconstitutional and illegal.
There was outrage following the City’s decision to paint over a mural of a Palestine flag that was painted on the wall of a block of flats in Lavender Hill. Video footage showed law enforcement officials overseeing the paint job.
The decision caused a stir on social media where Cape Town residents felt that law enforcement were quick to cover a mural, but remained silent when it came to drugs, crime and gangsterism in the Cape Flats.
The cleric, Reverend Allan Boesak, has criticized the City of Cape Town for its graffiti by-laws. This after various murals of the Palestinian flag were painted on public spaces and some homes in the Bo-Kaap. Boesak says people have a right to freedom of speech.
#SABCNews— SABCNews_MorningLive (@MorningLiveSABC) January 15, 2024
Some residents painted the Palestinian flag on their properties to shine a spotlight on the war in Gaza. The City of Cape Town has encouraged the public to apply when intending to install public art and murals at their properties, eNCA reported.
“It is clear that, in this province especially,a nd in this scity, our voice for Plewestine, must be heard, because it is only coming from the people. It is not coming from the city’s government or the Western Cape’s government,” anti-Apartheid activist, Allan Boesak, said.
“The constitution gives the people the rright of freedom of expression and to express your solidarity with Palestine, at a time like this, at time when the government of this country has taken the Israeli government to the international court, charging genocide,” he added.
@myancwc supported today’s Lavender Hill community meeting at the spot where the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement wrongfully painted over the Palestinian flag while the same City fails to paint over gang graffiti & fails to provide services & safety #KnowYourDA #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/gxnyW2Iape
— Khalid Sayed MPL (@MKhalidSayed) January 14, 2024
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Source: AFP
Picture: X/@SBPal_Eng
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