Coronavirus denialists and those against wearing protective masks were among almost 200 people gathered at Muizenberg beach on Saturday in protest against Level 3 restrictions.
This follows a circulated notification on Facebook calling on surfers, business owners and vendors to take a stand against lockdown restrictions.
Demonstrators came out with family and friends bearing placards that flouted nationwide calls for physical distancing and mask-wearing. People cheered and surfers dived into the waves.
Law enforcers were seen on the scene, standing back and inactive. They were faced with protesters in yoga and meditation positions. Beachwear included slip slops, sun hats and niqabs.
Among attendees, IOL reported Cape Coloured Congress supporter Faizel Petersen from Lavender Hill, who was quoted saying “The crap of closing beaches has got nothing to do with the virus, in my opinion”.
The ANC in the Western Cape called on Yolisa Matakata, the provincial police commissioner, to order an investigation and arrest and charge the organisers of the protest.
The EFF complained that this SAPS and other law enforcement officers were derelict in their duty to uphold the lockdown regulations.
“Based on the previous experiences, it is clear to us that if the majority of those protesters were black they would have been arrested and shot at with stun grenades and water cannons by the police…, but because the majority are white, the police did nothing”, the EFF said in a statement.
Perhaps the good vibes the protesters sent out were successful, as on Monday night President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the relaxing of a number of restrictions, including opening of beaches and allowing the sale of alcohol.