Cape Town – The Palestine Freedom Motorcade, an event set for this Sunday, May 5, in Cape Town, promises to demonstrate Palestinian solidarity in a remarkable way.
Aneeqah Timol, one of the organisers, noted that previous motorcades had meaningful community participation. She enthusiastically anticipates an even larger turnout this time, given the increased awareness the event has generated.
“This is going to be the third motorcade that we’ve organised in Cape Town. The first one we did in the area, from Muizenberg to Simonstown and then we did another during Ramadan … That one was very well received. About 70 to 80 cars turned up. This time, I feel like it’s going to be much better received. Because we’ve received a lot of feedback and a lot of support for radio stations and media outlets.”
The motorcade is scheduled to gather at Rondebosch Common on Campground Road at 1:30 PM and move at 2 PM. It will pass through the scenic Sea Point and Camps Bay before finishing in Hout Bay, offering participants a unique experience.
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Cape Town’s Unwavering Palestinian Support
Cape Town’s commitment to Palestinian activism is not a solitary effort but a collective, unified stand. With its robust and steadfast support from various communities, the city has positioned itself as a leading advocate for the Palestinian cause in South Africa.
Organising Palestinian marches, pickets, and solidarity events since October and earlier, the city’s actions demonstrate a shared dedication to battling injustice.
Timol underlined that these efforts, in line with others across the country, echo South Africa’s profound history of resisting similar oppression as in occupied Palestine.
This history, she emphasised, is a testament to the power of unified support for crucial causes. As we continue to advocate for Palestine, our support instils a widespread expectation for South Africa to lead in fighting Apartheid once again.
“I think South Africa as a whole has a lot more riding on this. We’ve come out of Apartheid, and simply for that reason, we as South Africans feel that we cannot allow another Apartheid [elsewhere].”
Timol also pointed out that the Western Cape’s intense involvement in Palestinian support is partly due to the discrepancy between the actions of the province’s governing party and the desires of its people, prompting them to take a stand.
Despite not having formal permission from local authorities, previous motorcades have proceeded without issues, with the police providing more support than opposition, according to Timol.
Rest assured, the event is designed to be a peaceful motorcade, maintaining a safe, family-friendly atmosphere. It’s about raising awareness for the Palestinian cause, not about confrontation.
“It’s a peaceful motorcade. We are not getting out of our cars, and we’re not engaging with anyone along the Route. We’re just driving with our flags out of the car. We hoot the occasional hooter here and there. But we don’t block roads off. We don’t stop and halt traffic. We are just slow cruising, and it’s just about visibility. Getting out there showing people that South Africa and Cape Town stand for Palestine.”
