With tens of thousands of Capetonians expected to flood the city centre for Palestine solidarity march on Saturday, organisers are tightening up logistics. While security, marshals and emergency services will be on standby, the organisers, National Coalition for Palestine (NC4P), is also coordinating transport for protestors outside of the CBD.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has arranged free transport with Metrorail between 9am and 3pm on Saturday. The only form of identification to access the free train service is a pamphlet from the NC4P which has been issued to the public. If you don’t have the pamphlet, then a Palestinian flags or scarf, school uniform, or any branded t-shirt bearing Cosatu, ANC, ANCYL or PAC will get you a free ride.

Cosatu Western Cape co-ordinator, Mike Louw said: “The agreement [with Metrorail] will allow anyone with this particular branding or identification free access to train services only on the day of the march.”

A number of local masajid in Mitchells Plain will act as departure points for residents seeking transport. A bus fee of R20 will provide transport to and from the march. However, member of the Mitchells Plain community, Cassiem Gamiet said commuters should be at the departure points before 8:30am. Some of the areas include, Colorado Park, Westridge and Portlands.

“A lot of people living in the Mitchells Plain area are in need of a lift to the march and therefore, buses will be leaving early in the morning. Should more people require a lift, there will be more buses made available,” Gamiet explained.

While 100 000 protesters are expected to show their support at one of the largest marches to take place in Cape Town since the fall of apartheid, South Africans from all parts of the nation plan to attend.

According to Yunus Gadee in Lenasia, Johannesburg, a bus service, including bed and breakfast will bring in a number of supporters. Already about 55 Jo’burgers have signed up and paid the R1250 for a trip to the march in Cape Town. However, Yunus said there are still about eight more seats available.

“The bus will be departing from Baitun Noor in Lenasia Ext 5. For anyone who is running a bit late, the bus will wait for one hour before departing on Friday evening at 7pm,” Gadee added.

Meanwhile, the local mosque in Surrey Estate will meet on Friday to discuss the role of the marshal at the march. Gamiet called on people of the local communities interested in ensuring a safe and orderly march, to attend the meeting. For more information, contact Cassiem Gamiet on 082 672 1666. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)