The City of Cape Town obtained a court interdict preventing the city’s informal settlements’ organisation from holding a march, said mayor Patricia de Lille.
The march was scheduled to take place on Friday.
She said the order was obtained as a last resort on Thursday, Sapa reported.
De Lille said she did not want to see a repetition of the disorder last month, when protesters claiming to be part of a service delivery demonstration looted shops and vendors’ stalls, and damaged property in central Cape Town.
“One of the senior leaders of the group and ANC councillor in the City of Cape Town Loyiso Nkohla is quoted in today’s media reports saying that: ‘… we will only stop the march if a court of law says so,'” said De Lille.
She said the group’s application to march was not approved because of evidence indicating that it could disrupt vehicular and pedestrian traffic, result in injury to people, and possible damage to property.
On Thursday, the police said they were fully deployed for the march.
“There will be heavy police deployments in the CBD as well as areas of congregation for the marchers,” said Colonel Tembinkosi Kinana.
Kinana said air support would be deployed if required and warned that protesters who broke the law would be arrested.