Thousands of people took part in the Johannesburg’s first pride parade since the Covid-19 pandemic on Saturday, despite US warning of a possible terrorist attack in the area.
The event took place under heavy security in the upmarket district of Sandton, identified by the US embassy as a potential target.
On Wednesday, the US government said it had received information that terrorists may be planning to launch attacks on large gatherings of people in Sandton on Saturday, with the Joburg pride allegedly being identified as the main target.
The US advised staff to avoid crowds and large gatherings over the weekend in the area. The pride march was one of the biggest events which took place in Sandton on Saturday.
South African authorities had assured organisers it was safe to proceed with the march, which returned after a two-year break because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was not pleased with the terror warning issued by the US, calling it “unfortunate” and said it was causing panic in the country.
On Thursday, Ramaphosa said the United States had not spoken to South African authorities in detail before issuing out the terror attack alert, and the security services said they would provide warnings if they were needed.
“We are always fighting for visibility, and we are always in danger, so me hearing of the terrorist attack warning, it didn’t even bother me,” said Anold Mulaisho, an LGBTQ activist told AFP.
“Either way, if we die my family already rejected me anyway, so no one is gonna get to miss me.”
US state department spokesperson Ned Price, on Friday praised security efforts in South Africa and Nigeria, where the United States issued a separate security alert that led to the evacuation of families of US government personnel.
“We deeply appreciate the efforts that they make to protect their interests and in turn our interests,” Price told reporters.
Source: News24, Reuters, NDTV, The Guardian, image from Twitter: @TroddAwesome