Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said there would be NO VIOLENCE on Monday during the National Shutdown.
‘ANYONE WHO SAYS WE’VE THREATENED VIOLENCE IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH’
“Anyone who says we’ve threatened violence is not telling the truth because we have not threatened violence, all we did was to be nice to all the stakeholders because that is in the nature and character of the EFF.”
Julius Malema
He furthermore said those who engage in illegal activities would face the might of the law. Police have the responsibilty to arrest any criminals.
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MALEMA SAID POLICE WOULD DEAL WITH THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES
“The police will be there to deal with them. If you engage in wrongdoing, the police will arrest you. If you are an EFF member and you can be identified, the EFF will take internal steps to deal with you because our’s is a peaceful protest.”
He posed the following question to the media during a media briefing on Wednesday:
HE ALSO WARNED OF A POSSIBLE UNLED REVOLUTION
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“What if the National Shutdown does not stop on the 20th of March? What if this is the start of an unled revolution?”
Julius Malema
HERE IS WHAT WE KNOW THUS FAR:
Malema addressed the public on Wednesday, ahead of the party’s looming nationwide shutdown.
- Clinics and hospitals will be accessible
- No starting or ending point
- This is a protest, NOT a march.
- No permit granted for National Shutdown
- Businesses warned NOT to open on Monday.
- Promises of no violence -‘This is a peaceful protest’.
There has been growing criticism over the party’s plans to mobilise hundreds of EFF members, citizens, and other organisations next week to demand an end to load shedding and for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.
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The media briefing comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA) launched a legal bid to stop the mass gathering and what it calls rampant intimidation and threats of violence allegedly peddled by the EFF.
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES FUELING THE PROTEST?
In short, the protest is against everything going wrong in South Africa – however, EFF leader Julius Malema is headlining two key points: president Cyril Ramaphosa and load shedding.
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WHO IS TAKING PART IN THE PROTEST?
- The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has submitted and had its ‘intention to protest’ approved by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in terms of section 77.
- Other groups that have signed on to take part in the shutdown include smaller political parties like the United Democratic Movement (UDM).
CAPE TOWN MAYOR CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE NO SHUTDOWN IN THE CITY
Meanwhile, the Cape Town mayor has vowed that there will be no national shutdown in the city.
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In a video posted on his Twitter page, Geordin Hill-Lewis said in Cape Town, it would be business as usual next Monday.
POLICE PREPARING FOR THE NATIONAL SHUTDOWN
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) has begun preparing for the day.
“While plans will be in place to ensure law and order, we are urging all people in this country to heed the country’s laws and not engage in acts that will result in them having criminal records.”
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe
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