GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
21 October 2023
GOOD strongly condemns the assault of Communicare CEO Anthea Houston at the Cape Town Marathon last week, and will this Sunday join in a protest to demand justice.
Houston was part of a group who were peacefully protesting the attacks on Palestinians in Gaza when a runner attacked her, resulting in her sustaining serious injuries and spending two days in hospital.
This violent response to her peaceful protest has no place in South Africa.
The conflict in the Middle East has resulted in extreme divisions among people in South Africa and such disgraceful acts just further add to the anger and hatred brewing in communities.
Moreover, this once again highlights the serious challenge of violence against women in our communities. That a man believes he can violently attack a woman for expressing her views, and that he feels comfortable enough to even do so openly at a public event, says a lot about our society.
It’s understood police have identified the runner and are investigating the matter, but no arrests have yet been made.
Houston is a respected and passionate community activist and a formidable ally to the fraternity of spatial justice activists, including GOOD, fighting for dignified and well-located affordable housing in Cape Town. We will show our support this Sunday at 1pm at Woodstock police station.
Furthermore, as GOOD, we call for an immediate cease-fire and de-escalation of the conflict which has already claimed the lives of thousands of civilians on both sides. All parties must act in accordance with international humanitarian laws and the laws of war.
The current humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza is catastrophic. Efforts must continue to ensure that food, water, and aid can get to the millions of people, including women and children, who are caught in the middle of this, stuck in a war-torn city that remains the target of ongoing airstrikes.
This is not a time for world leaders to pick sides and boost the conflict with hard power assistance and blind support. We must choose peace.
Media Enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 082 518 3264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za