As a global community, on World Environment Day, we are reflecting on our planet's precious resources, and the need for land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience. This is a particularly critical issue currently gripping the African continent.

On the 21st of March 2024, in Cape Town, civil society from different sectors, organisations, and communities across the city came together for a mass action to call for deep systemic change. The action had received a permit from the City of Cape Town (CoCT) for 2500 people to march and gather. In issuing the permit, the CoCT confirmed that sufficient police, law enforcement, and traffic officers would be present to ensure the safety of all involved with the action. Unfortunately this proved not to be the case.