Picture: for illustration purposes
A pro-Palestinian demonstrator, standing with a sign along the path of the Cape Town Marathon this past Sunday, alleges she was assaulted by a marathon participant. The protester, Communicare CEO, Anthea Houston, is said to be recuperating in a local hospital from an injury to her head. She was part of a broader rally, showing support for Palestinians in the aftermath of the recent Gaza Strip conflict, which, according to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees, displaced nearly one million persons. As communicated through her sister, Lorna Houston, the sisters stood with the cause at the Marathon to shed light on the brutalities suffered by the Palestinians and to advocate for their rights.
However, the peaceful protest took a distressing turn when a marathon participant allegedly hit Anthea, causing her to fall and suffer a head injury. Despite attempts to stop the runner, he managed to escape. The police have been criticised for their handling of the episode, which has been described as a “he-said, she-said” situation by the authorities.
Concerns were raised by JP Smith, the Mayco member for Safety and Security, who called for the apprehension and prosecution of the assailant. This incident occurred amidst a pro-Israel demonstration at the Cape Town Jewish Community Centre, a stark contrast showing the varying stances on the Israel-Palestine conflict within the South African community.