South African police today gave anti-globalisation activists permission to protest against the Earth Summit in a move that could see 20,000 militants take to the streets of Johannesburg on Saturday.
Security Minister Mr Charles Nqakula said the police had issued permits to 17 groups to stage protest marches against the event, and that at least three of them, including the Social Movement Indaba (SMI), would do so Saturday.
The anti-globalisation group and the others will be allowed to march five kilometres (three miles) from Alexandra, the country's poorest township, to the plush suburb of Sandton where the 10-day summit opened on Monday.
The police backed down after five days of saying that for security reasons the SMI could not protest in Alexandra, while the group angrily vowed that it would go ahead with or without permission.
AFP