23 protesters arrested in Cape Town between 4 and 6 September during mass protests against gender-based violence (GBV) wont face any further legal action after the state opted not to prosecute.
Police arrested most of the protesters after they had gathered outside the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) where the World Economic Forum (WEF Africa 2019) was taking place.
Groups of protesters had gathered in different parts of Cape Town’s CBD to demonstrate against violence targeting women and children in South Africa.
According to the Daily Maverick, eleven protesters were arrested on 4 September for contravening the Regulation of Gatherings Act (RGA), 10 were arrested in the following two days for public violence, and another two arrested for assault of a police officer on 5 September.
Some of the protesters were due to appear in court on Monday but were met with news that the state would not prosecute and the accused will not have any criminal records.
Speaking to the Daily Maverick, National Prosecution Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said,
After careful analysis of the evidence and factors of the cases, the State declined to prosecute as there were no prospects of successful prosecution.
More: Daily Maverick