South Africa: Protest march in Johannesburg October 25 /update 1

Event

The Solidarity labor union has announced plans to stage a protest march in the vicinity of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (Sandton area) on Thursday, October 25. Demonstrators are expected to gather at Mushroom Farm Park in the morning before departing for Sasol Place via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange; more details on the planned march route are available here. The event is expected to last from approximately 10:30 to 14:00 (local time). A heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions are to be expected in the vicinity of the march. 

Context

The protests are over a recently-implemented share ownership plan only available to black employees at petrochemicals firm Sasol, which white workers allege is discriminatory. Solidarity members already launched a strike over the matter in early September, which the union claimed was the "first time in the history of South Africa that white employees strike because of racial exclusion." South African businesses are required to meet quotas guaranteeing levels of black involvement to counter decades of apartheid-era exclusion. In 2017, Sasol announced plans to increase black ownership levels at Sasol South Africa to a minimum of 25 percent.

Advice

Individuals present in Johannesburg are advised to monitor developments to the situation, anticipate localized transportation disruptions, and avoid all demonstrations as a precaution.