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Shivambu foresees neither nor destruction during shutdown

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The Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) deputy president, Floyd Shivambu says Monday’s national shutdown will not lead to destruction or death.

The EFF is calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign, an end to load shedding and other pressing issues in the country. It will be taking place across the country, where businesses are set to come to a standstill.

The Police Minister, Bheki Cele, has urged officers to ensure that there is no repeat of the July 2021 unrest.

Shivambu insists that the shutdown would be a peaceful protest and should not be compared to the unrest. Shivambu was speaking to SABC News ahead of the national shutdown.

“It is disingenuous to compare a national shutdown, a led national shutdown. It is disingenuous to compare that to the July 2021 unrest. We have led so many protests as the EFF. There has not been a single life lost. We have marched to Eskom, we have marched to the JSE, we have marched to the SABC on several occasions. We have marched to different municipal offices; we have marched in the mines. There has never been a single life lost. We have marched to parliament there has never been a single life lost, there has never been anyone who was hospitalised   due to the marches of the EFF, which are led in a disciplined and focused way.”

Incitement to violence

On Friday the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) said that police detectives and the Hawks are investigating complaints of intimidation and incitement to violence via social media in connection with the planned national shutdown.

The NATJOINTS, which consists of various departments including the State Security Agency, the South African Police Service, and the South African National Defence Force, has assured South Africans of their safety during the planned shutdown.

NATJOINTS’ Chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili says they have mobilised maximum resources to heighten police visibility throughout the country on Monday.

Meanwhile, the North West government says officers will enforce the law to ensure the safety of communities during the shutdown. The provincial government spokesperson Brian Setswambung says intimidation, damage to property and threats to human life will not be tolerated.

“Security in all government buildings in the province will be stepped up, to ensure that government properties and employees, who will be on duty on that day are protected. Premier Maape maintains that the provincial government has a responsibility to ensure that communities’ rights to have unrestricted movement  and access to government services are not compromised, hence the assurance that their safety is guaranteed on the day of the protest.- Additional reporting by Itumeleng Kgajane

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