WATCH: Heavy downpours, thunder rain on EFF’s parade in Johannesburg
Windy weather accompanied the heavy rainfall, but the EFF said it would not stop the 'revolution'.
Picture: EFF/Twitter
After the South African Weather Service on Friday issued a watch for heavy downpours leading to localised flooding and large amounts of small hail over the Emfuleni, Midvvaal and City of Johannesburg municipalities from 12pm to 3pm on Friday, the heavens opened up on Sandton on Friday afternoon.
ALSO READ: Malema thanks Eskom CEO De Ruyter for ‘respecting us, we came in the rain’
The thunder and rain did not seem to slow down an EFF-led march from Sandton to Eskom’s headquarters, Megawatt Park.
There is no rain that can stop a revolution #EFFEskomMarch pic.twitter.com/lpvvNnoZml
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 28, 2020
The party has been joined by others in protest at what they allege is the privatisation of Eskom. The protest saw coal trucks blocking roads in and around Sandton on Friday morning.
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 28, 2020
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 28, 2020
EFF leader Julius Malema led the march, which thousands of party members attended along with supporting organisations.
Several truck drivers parked in the middle of Katherine Street in Sandton.
Malema instructed the drivers to park their trucks in the heart of Sandton for 40 minutes as part of their protest.
“Once we move, our trucks are going to park here for 40 minutes, then they will follow us. Close all the entrances of this Rivonia and when we come back we are going to do the same thing,” Malema said.
Protesters also blocked traffic when they made a 30-minute pitstop in the vicinity of Grayston and Rivonia roads, near to Investec’s offices.
Some businesses closed and employees watched and took pictures.
All Truck Drivers Federation leader Mandla Mgomezulu said they joined the EFF to demand that Eskom treat black trucking businesses equally to their white counterparts.
They claim tenders are mainly awarded to white businesses. Mgomezulu also claimed many truck drivers were losing their jobs because many trucking companies employed foreign nationals for far less money.
“As South African citizens, we have basic salaries and minimum wage which companies are not complying with. That is why they employ foreign nationals who, at times, do not even have documentation.”
ATM leader Vuyo Zungula, who also attended the march, said they supported the cause because they were against mismanagement and the privatisation of Eskom.
“Because we are a political party that has the people’s best interests at heart, we saw it fit to join because it is in line with our values,” Zungula told News24.
The heavy downpours were accompanied by windy weather, which was expected to later move to Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
“Strong to gale force SE winds (55 to 65km/h) are expected between Cape Columbine and Cape Agulhas, as well as the Cape Metropole, spreading along the south coast to Mossel Bay,” said the service.
“Severe thunderstorms are observed 30km east of Carletonville in the LM of Merafong moving east towards Randfontein and Westonaria LM resulting in heavy downpours leading to localised flooding and large amounts of small hail,” said the SAWS.
(Background reporting, News24 Wire. Compiled by Charles Cilliers)
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