With the looming threat of a national shutdown on Friday, June 10 South Africans are asking themselves if the rumours are in fact true or if the civic organisations that are sharing the rumours are just crying wolf. The Northsider contacted local authorities to find out if there was any truth in the rumours that various associations and groups were in support of the national shutdown.
On Thursday, June 9 at 08:36 Honeydew Police Station spokesperson Captain Balan Muthan said, “At this time there is nothing we know about the strike”. Muthan added that he was aware of ongoing negotiations between the taxi associations and the government.
In a press release from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), Colonel Athlenda Mathe said NATJOINTS was aware of unsigned messages and posters circulating on various social media platforms calling for a national shutdown. “Those behind these messages are warned and reminded that prohibiting people’s freedom of movement is a criminal offence. Members of the public are therefore cautioned against spreading such messages that seek to mobilise communities to respond to the shutdown. We are calling on all people in South Africa to work together with law-enforcement authorities to uphold and enforce the law. Any action aimed at contravening the law will be dealt with accordingly within the ambit of the law. To this end, NATJOINTS is calling for the cooperation of the public.”
NATJOINTS met on Wednesday, June 8 and were briefed by the Intelligence Coordinating Committee (ICC) on the validity of the call for a national shutdown. The intelligence community is closely monitoring the situation and the associated risks.
“With this said, law-enforcement officers have been deployed and are on high alert to prevent and combat any forms of criminality. The respective Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures (PROVJOINTS) have been directed to ensure multidisciplinary deployments and that the necessary contingency plans are in place. The NATJOINTS assures members of the public that enforcement of the law will be executed within relevant prescripts to ensure stability in the country,” concluded Mathe.
According to a media alert issued by the National Taxi Alliance (NTA), the alliance has not yet called for a national shutdown in view of the increasing fuel rates. “We have every intention to negotiate with government in good faith; however, should government fail to [meet] our demands as they always do, we will be left without a choice but to call for a shutdown in conjunction with like-minded businesses and civil society,” stated NTA spokesperson Theo Malele on Tuesday, June 7. He added that NTA is engaging with government to try and get the taxi industry exempted from some of the fuel levies and taxes. “… as we believe that is the only solution available at this juncture to lessen the burden on taxi operators and commuters”`
On Tuesday, May 31 the EFF released the follow statement: “The EFF is convening a meeting to discuss how we respond to these rising prices. We will also consider engaging in a national shutdown, until the cost of petrol is reduced. It is up to the Treasury to introduce measures which will immediately lower our fuel prices.”
Cosatu secretary Edwin Mkhize said in response to the rumours that while the labour federation was ‘genuinely concerned’ about the increase in fuel prices, they had not been invited to sit down at the table with Santaco. Mkhize said Cosatu was not aware of plans for a national shutdown. Santaco national spokesperson, Thabiso Molelekwa recently released a statement to the media which explained that there were no plans for a national shutdown as they were in talks with government regarding a viable solution following immense petrol price increases recently.
“Santaco has never lobbied any organisation for a national shutdown, and is not planning a shutdown. However, we hold the strongest view that there’s an urgent intervention needed from government, and this despite looming taxi fare increases. The reason we will not embark on protests or a national shutdown is because not all avenues have been exhausted. We are in talks with government.”
According to the rumours doing the rounds, there will be a national shutdown on Friday, June 10 in response to fuel prices increasing rapidly over the past month; the increasing operational fuel price adjustments for June 2022 and the resulting impact on various other prices linked to the petrol price; for example food prices. This strike aims to voice the dissatisfaction of the nation.
Residents are warned that if these demonstrations come into fruition and are well-attended they will be vulnerable to heavy foot traffic, loitering, intimidation, go-slow motorcades, and barricaded roads.
