PRESIDENT WARN THOSE WHO WANT TO INFRINGE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS
By Thulane Madalane and Welcome Skhosana
National Defence Force is on high alert to deal with any possible violence.President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned those who will be embarking on a shutdown not to infringe the rights of others by coercing them to do what they don’t want,“Coercing others to act in a way that you want is not a part of our democratic architecture and I wanted to say, very clearly: disorder and anarchy will not be allowed in South Africa.We will not allow those who want to spread anarchy to do what they like, here” said Ramaphosa. The planned “National Shutdown” by the EFF on Monday has divided the country into two. Some are supporting it while others claim it will destabilise the already ailing economy.
However leadership of the Economic Freedom Fighters remain defiant to go ahead despite government’s warning that it will not tolerate any anarchy on the day. On Thursday EFF leader Julius Malema, announced in the media and social networks that the shutdown will continue and no one will stand in their way. Malema has warned businesses countrywide to close their doors or risk looting as fighters wherever they are, are going to gather and protest in their various areas.
The shutdown is aimed at forcing President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down and also raise concern over people’s sentiments about rising costs of living, fuel prices, load shedding, crime, corruption, and maladministration among other grievances.
Various civil rights organisations, independent religious groups, opposition political parties such as the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC), ATM, the United Democratic Movement (UDM), and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) will join the EFF on the day. Parties such as Herman Mashaba’s Action SA, Operation Dudula and the DA will not form part of the shutdown.The South African Police Service says there will be no shutdown on Monday. The office of the president has indicated that private security companies, SAPS tactical response teams and the SANDF will be deployed in strategic areas to defend any public violence, though they cannot discuss their security strategy in public.EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys indicated in a statement, that it is not just EFF members and supporters affected by load shedding and the endless list of other failures under Ramaphosa.”It is sensible for all South Africans to be part of the national shutdown to fix the dire social and economic conditions that are suffocating us,” said Mathys. It is not the first time that the EFF stages a shutdown. They did the same when they previously marched against former president Jacob Zuma, who eventually resigned after mounting pressure across the country due to the Gupta’s scandal. Affected local and national business people believe circumstances have changed when compared to previous protests, as this time around the country is affected by a common problem which is load shedding and job losses.Some members of the community believe that those who have come to support the EFF should be allowed to express their views over what is happening in the former flourishing country. Other parties who have joined the shutdown are seen not doing so because they support the EFF, but because they find it difficult to organise a successful shutdown on their own.In a public statement SAFTU general secretary, Zwelizima Vavi confirmed that they would also be participating in the national shutdown. He said that they would galvanise and mobilise the federation’s members to join from across the country.He said that they had submitted a Section 77 notice to protect all workers in and outside the federation.”This means that any worker, even if they are not a member of any union, including the federation itself, will be protected from victimisation by employers when they participate in the national shutdown,” explained Vavi. South African National Taxi Council( SANTACO) has distanced it’s from the national shutdown because they feel that they will be adding fuel to the already ailing economy . SANTACO spokesperson Bafana Magagula was quoted on Media24 stating their position against the shutdown,”We are looking at the shutdown as more of an injury to the economy. Firstly, we were not even part of the planning of that strike, and our drivers are fully aware that we don’t condone the shutdown at all,” Magagula said. Meanwhile the Municipal Manager of Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality Ronald Moganedi has assured his employees that on Monday is business as usual, “All staff members are hereby notified that Monday the 20th of March 2023 is a Normal working day and all employees must report to work in exception of those who will be on leave.” quipped Moganedi.This is a developing story, it remain to be seen whether how many businesses especially in the public malls will operate as usual come Monday morning.
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