Julius Malema’s exact location during tomorrow’s EFF-led national shutdown has so far been kept a mystery, to blindside and counter the state’s response to the public demonstrations.
The party’s push to topple President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the prime demands during the demonstrations has put the government and its security cluster on the edge. The EFF also demands the end of loadshedding.
Julius Malema’s exact location during tomorrow’s EFF-led national shutdown has so far been kept a secret to blindside and counter the state’s response to the public demonstrations.
The party’s push to topple President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the prime demands during the demonstrations, has put the government and its security cluster on edge.
The EFF also demands the end of loadshedding.
But an intelligence report from security company G4S South Africa has highlighted 24 locations of interest countrywide, which it described as high-risk areas, potentially throwing some hints as to where Malema could be.
According to sources who spoke to G4S, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which is responsible for the safety and security of all major sporting, cultural, and recreational events, “will maintain a level of secrecy regarding response plans in the lead up to the national shutdown”.
Given that among the EFF’s priority demands is Ramaphosa’s resignation, it is likely that one of Malema’s stops tomorrow could be at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. But G4S, a British multinational private security company, adds that Ramaphosa’s state residence in Mahlamba Ndlopfu, also in Pretoria, should be closely watched.
On Wednesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the calls for a national shutdown were “reckless and irresponsible. The alleged demands about loadshedding, high costs of living, and the high unemployment rate were addressed by the president during the state of the nation address on February 9.”
She added that the appointment of a minister of electricity was one such intervention.
The only demand behind this protest action was to remove Ramaphosa from office through unconstitutional means, she said. “A regime change through unconstitutional means will not be tolerated in South Africa.
“Anyone with ambitions to govern this country must wait and contest the 2024 elections. Attempts to cause disruption and disturbances in the country will be met with the full might of the law,” said Ntshavheni.
Other sites that G4S flagged include Richards Bay and Richards Bay Coal Terminal in KwaZulu-Natal; Middelburg, Emalahleni, Mbombela, and N4 between Kamagugu and Ressano Garcia in Mpumalanga; as well as East London and Komani in the Eastern Cape.
In the Northern Cape, the company warned of possible high levels of protests in Hartswater, Kimberley and Mothibistadt; Burgersfort, Jane Furse, Marblehall and Groblersdal in Limpopo; Brits, Marikana and Rustenburg Central in the North West; Welkom, Bloemfontein Central, Mangaung, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu in the Free State; as well as office of the premier, parliament and Cape Town Central in the Western Cape.
G4S expects the demonstrations to start just after midnight on Sunday. Cities around the country were adorned with protest information boards. The company said that several other political parties had rallied with the EFF regarding this call to action. The PAC stated it would join and support the protest.
The UDM released a poster announcing a picket taking place outside the Pretoria High Court on March 20 in relation to loadshedding.
The Land Party has announced a National Day of Action Demands also taking place tomorrow, citing its demands as the end of loadshedding and job discrimination, as well as the allocation of fishing rights to poor communities. The SA Federation of Trade Unions and municipal workers are to join the EFF national shutdown.
In contrast, the DA has called for assurances from Minister of Police Bheki Cele that the SAPS will ensure the safety of citizens during the shutdown.
The party also labelled the protest a threat to the nation’s economy, public and private infrastructure and the safety of citizens.
However, the protest received “mixed reviews from the public, specifically on social media”, according to G4S. Also, the hashtag #NATIONALSHUTDOWN has not yet been trending on any of the major social networks in South Africa. However, despite G4S’s claims, the national shutdown was, by yesterday, topping Twitter’s trending lists.
G4S said the turnout to the protest action could be negatively affected by factors such as weather conditions and middle class fatigue.
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