Schools and shops in Pretoria warned not to open on Friday

Organisers of a protest march in Pretoria on Friday have warned schools and shops in the city to stay closed, Pretoria East Rekord reports.

“Whoever opens [sic] will be at their own risk,” they said in a flyer.

READ MORE: Tshwane ANCYL planned shutdown illegal

The marchers will demand jobs back that they lost last month under the expanded public works programme.

The warning has prompted the metro to consider measures in a bid to preserve law and order during the protest.

Community safety MMC Derrick Kissoonduth said he would ask the police to ensure residents and businesses were protected against violence, intimidation and destruction.

The Vat Alles flyer

“I will approach the police minister and police commissioner and request that they exercise their constitutional mandate to ensure that the residents and businesses of Pretoria Central are protected from continued threats of violence, intimidation and destruction pursuant to sections 205 & 206 of the Constitution.”

He said the metro distanced itself from the flyer, which features the City’s logo.

He further said: “This threat is a clear violations of the constitutional provisions for the freedom and security of person contained in section 12 of the Constitution, and directly criminalised by section 1(1)(b)(i) of the Intimidation Act.”

Kissoonduth said though people had the right to demonstrate peacefully, their rights did not extend to threatening, intimidation or assaulting others.

“National law enforcement agencies are duty-bound by the constitution and the principles of cooperative government that it outlines to act in order to preserve the peace and secure the well-being of the people of the Tshwane.”

Kissoonduth said he trusted law enforcement agencies would perform their duties diligently and ensure the interests of the people in the City were protected.

Tshwane ANCYL planned shutdown illegal

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.