National shutdown: Metro puts contigency plans in place

The state assures the nation that measures are in place to prevent and combat any acts of criminality.

Minister of Police General Bheki Cele together with the national commissioner of SAPS General Fannie Masemola and provincial commissioner of SAPS in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela and various senior SAPS management conducting a walkabout at Golden Walk Mall in Germiston, Ekurhuleni District.

The City of Ekurhuleni has put systems in place to ensure that service delivery is not disrupted during Monday’s planned shutdown.

According to metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini, after carefully considering possible threats to its functionality as a result of the planned action, the city has moved swiftly to ensure that there is less to zero impact on services on the day.

“We are also aware that some employees may participate in the action while others may be prevented from coming to work. The city will continue to provide essential services to our residents and our teams will be on standby to attend to any service delivery interruptions that may occur.

“The EMPD working with other stakeholders in the field of community safety will be on high alert and ready to deal with any threat to municipal and private infrastructure during the shutdown.

“The teams have been briefed to deal decisively with any acts of anarchy, disobedience and sabotage.

“While the city respects the constitutional rights of citizens to embark on protests, an appeal is made for peaceful, and orderly protestations.

“It must be emphasised that the city will take a zero-tolerance approach to criminality, vandalism and intimidation on the day.

“The city has already established a joint operation centre that will monitor the day’s activities and action any intervention as and when necessary.”

Hotspots
Meanwhile, the Reiger Park police have issued a stern warning to would-be looters who will take advantage of the EFF’s mass protest to target delivery vehicles, particularly in the crime hotspots along Wit Deep Road between Jerusalem and Delmore informal settlements.

“We will be closely monitoring the known hotspots, and will act swiftly and decisively against any threats or disruptions,” said Reiger Park SAPS spokesperson Const Johannes Msimanga.

Taxi operations will continue 
Santaco says minibus taxi operations are set to continue as normal on Monday despite the EFF protest.
Santaco said in a statement that this decision came after a meeting between the leadership of Santaco and the EFF, which was held on Wednesday in Pretoria, to discuss the protest.

“We want to emphasise that the meeting was cordial, and the views of both parties were respectfully welcomed. Prior to the meeting, Santaco had replied to the EFF’s letter explaining its apolitical stance as a matter of policy, which the EFF respected,” said the statement.

“The EFF’s courtesy of briefing Santaco on why their protest was justified is welcomed. We confidently believe that come March 20, we will all work together to afford each other space in pursuit of our diverse interests and intended objectives of the day,” it said in the statement.

Natjoints

In January, the EFF announced its planned March 21 national shutdown to demand an end to load-shedding and  President Cyril Ramaphosa’s resignation.

The party called on all businesses and other industrial activities to cease, and for all workers to remain at home on Monday – sparking public concern about violence.

However, in light of the planned protest, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) said it will be business as usual on Monday and reaffirmed its commitment to deal with any disruptions or form of violence and criminality during the EFF’s planned mass protest.

Natjoints will this afternoon (18:00) again update the nation on safety and security measures in place for Monday.

Minister of Police General Bheki Cele, with the national commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, and provincial commissioner of SAPS in Gauteng Lieutenant General Elias Mawela and various senior SAPS management members, are today visiting different parts of Gauteng to evaluate the state of readiness in the province ahead of the planned protest.

https://twitter.com/LirandzuThemba/status/1636654945658085378/video/1

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Cele pointed out that measures have been put in place to ensure that everyone who wants to go about their normal businesses will be able to go to work and conduct business without any form of disruptions.

“Monday is a working day and we assure every citizen that they must and should go on with their business as usual without any fear of anyone. The security cluster is fully prepared and will deal with any disruption caused by these protest actions.

“Anyone who intimidates, stops anyone from going to work, barricades the roads and highways or 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,” Cele said on Thursday.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be on standby to assist the police to deal with any violence that may arise from the EFF’s planned countrywide shutdown.

https://twitter.com/SANDF_ZA/status/1636360090285658112/photo/1

 

We have taken legal and other action against EFF intimidation and threats of violence ahead of their so-called “National Shutdown.”

Social media posts and public statements suggest they are fully prepared to break the law in pursuit of their own agenda. https://t.co/9Rh6wGHv15

   

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