South Africa: Govt Says Monday Will Be A Normal Day Despite EFF Planned Shut Down

1 year agoThu, 16 Mar 2023 13:10:07 GMT

South Africa: Govt Says Monday Will Be A Normal Day Despite EFF Planned Shut Down

The government of South Africa has assured stakeholders that Monday 20 March will be a normal day despite a national shut down which the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) scheduled for that day.

Law enforcement officers will be out in their numbers to protect those who want to go to work on Monday during the National Shutdown, the South African reported citing Ministers of the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security (JCPS) cluster. The JCPS cluster is quoted as saying:

We want to assure everyone in the country that 20 March will be a normal business day. We want to reiterate to our international community that contrary to the pronouncements by those advocating for any disruption, all ports of entry – land, sea, and air – will be operational.

Measures have been put in place to ensure that everyone who wants to go to work, travel for leisure and conduct business on this day does so in a safe and secure environment.
We also want to caution against the spreading of messages of fear, intimidation or inflammatory statements that could incite violence. This is a criminal offence. We are aware of many social media accounts claiming that hundreds and thousands of followers are being mobilised to support the protest.
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There will be high police visibility. Our law enforcement agencies through the NatJoints will ensure multidisciplinary deployments and the necessary contingency plans are already in place. The NatJoints will be briefing the nation on its plans for the planned protest.

The JCPS cluster further stated that anyone who intimidates, stops anyone from going to work, barricades the roads and highways, and uses any form of violence to try and stop our people from going on with their lives will face the full might of the law.

Meanwhile, SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) said they will not take part in the National Shutdown. The announcement follows a meeting they held with the EFF.

EFF leader Julius Sello Malema addressed the public on Wednesday, ahead of the party’s looming nationwide shutdown to demand an end to load shedding and for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.

Minister in the presidency and cabinet spokesperson, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said the EFF must contest the elections next year if wants to govern, it

Times Live cites Ntshavheni as saying the might of the law will be used against those who plan to cause disruption and disturbances in the country.