‘This is the most successful shutdown ever’, Malema tells protesters
The EFF leader said that the protest message was clear in calling for an end of load shedding and Ramaphosa to go.
EFF party leader Julius Malema addresses hundreds of protesters who showed up for the party’s National Shutdown in Pretoria on Monday afternoon.
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A swarm of members wearing red regalia gathered at Church Square awaiting the CIC’s address before making their way through the streets of Pretoria to the Union Building.
The third biggest opposition party led a country wide protests calling an end to load shedding while calling for the country’s President Ramaphosa to step aside.
“This is the most successful shutdown ever in the history of struggle in South Africa. Today, on my way here they said they are cancelling load shedding for today because there is no demand for electricity because the factories are closed and that is how you should measure the success of this shutdown. Today there is no big mall, no shop, no factory, no school, and no nothing is open today,” he said, to loud roaring cheers.
Malema who was joined by different leaders of political formations said that the shutdown protests had successfully achieved what it had set out.
He said critics who claimed the protest was a failure were clutching at straws. He said these were utter lies circulated by people who were disappointed that the protest was peaceful.
“…they say the shutdown is not successful because there is no looting, no burning of property, or any leader arrested therefore the shutdown is not successful. They want to project the eff as an organisation of the anarchists.
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“We are an organisation of discipline forces of the left which can shut down the country without burning a building and looting because that is not our mission. All members of the EFF and supporters of the National Shutdown did so in a dignified manner,” said Malema, adding that closure of Sandton City, considered to be the biggest center of economy on the continent, was proof that its shutdown was a major success.
The EFF leader said that the protest message was clear in calling for an end of load shedding and Ramaphosa to go. He said issues of high unemployment, high levels of crime and poverty levels in the country were also critical elements for the shutdown.
He also addressed the deployment of the SANDF and heavy police presence as intimidation and tactics to drive fear against those protesting. He applauded the eff members and supporters of the shutdown for their bravery for rising against the said tactics.
He also said that the party would lodge formal charges against KwaZulu Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for instigating violence.
“…we are the only people who are not scared of Cyril Ramaphosa, his solider or the police. We are not scared of Bheki Cele, we are not scared of the police.
“The police commissioner of KZN, we must take him to court after this march so that his utterances can be declared invalid and unconstitutional. He has no such option in the constitution,” he said, referring to a press briefing where Mkhwanazi allegedly said that the police would abandon police service and instead use combat.
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On Sunday, Ramaphosa notified parliament of the deployment of 3474 SANDF soldiers until 17 April. Ramaphosa said the deployment of SANDF, under Operation Prosper’ was for the prevention of crime and law and order.
The deployment, which will be working alongside the SAPS, is said to cost taxpayers R166 Million.
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