Mpumalanga EFF ready for the national shutdown

The EFF’s provincial chairperson, Collen Sedibe, said preparations for the big day intensified at the beginning of this week.

Sedibe said they have managed to put up posters and conduct door-to-door lobbying for the greater society to join the protest action on Monday.

The EFF’s president, Julius Malema, announced at the party’s fourth annual plenum session at the beginning of the year that they will be embarking on a national shutdown on March 20, demanding the immediate resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to load-shedding.

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“We are ready. The ground forces of the EFF and the general members of our communities who are tired of load-shedding, ever-increasing food and petrol prices, lack of employment opportunities and potholes on our roads, are all ready for the shut-down. There is no backing down. We are taking back and taking control of our country, as it is clear that it is on the brink of collapse under Ramaphosa’s leadership,” said Sedibe.

He invited everyone to join the protest. He called on shop owners, the transport industry  Throngs of EFF members during their march to Leopard Creek in Malalane. and factories to close their establishments and take part.

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“This protest is not about politics, but about daily issues of bread and butter. It is about fixing our country.” The national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said it is the EFF’s responsibility to ensure its planned protest does not turn violent, but remains peaceful. Mathe said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure has begun preparing for the day. “The SAPS will not tolerate any lawlessness and criminality during the shutdown,” she said.

In Mpumalanga, the police will also be on high alert, confirmed a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

“We are also ready and will definitely deploy our members in all the strategic places to ensure there is no criminality on the day. We would strongly like to warn and caution against any criminal behaviour. Our members will arrest anyone found to have violated and broken the laws of the country,” he warned.

At a media briefing last week, the SA Federation of Trade Unions’ general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, announced they would be joining the protest. They were later joined by the Land Party SA and the United Democratic Movement, who also announced their intention to join.