EFF Calls For Nationwide Shutdown; SAFTU And UDM Join The Protest

The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party (EFF) has called for a planned national shutdown on March 20 and urged all South Africans to participate in the protest.

EFF announced the national shutdown to protest against President Cyril Ramaphosa and the load-shedding crisis in the country. The EFF will also demand ANC president Ramaphosa's resignation and electricity restoration in the country.

In an audio surfaced online, EFF members can be heard saying over a loudspeaker that everyone should keep their businesses closed to avoid looting.

"We are saying to you close down all your businesses to avoid the looting. Close down all your shops to avoid looting. Close down all your factories to avoid the looting," they said, TimesLive reported. "Close down everything. Nothing will be operating on that day. We are avoiding looting. We are saying to you come and join the march, my brother. Come and join the march, my sister."

Alongside EFF, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has also disclosed its plan to join the protest. They also issued a notice, mentioning that "all workers in the economy will be protected when they join the #NationalShutdown on 20 March 2023."

SAFTU is the second-largest trade union in South Africa with roughly 800,000 members. Small political parties like United Democratic Movement (UDM) will also join the protest.

However, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced that the city will remain open for business as usual.

"Everyone has the right to democratically protest in South Africa, but it is undemocratic and unlawful to threaten a shutdown of public life and for businesses to stay closed or face dire consequences," Cape Town Mayor said, News24 reported.

He continued, "The interdict is a precautionary measure to ensure the organizers and participants stay within the confines of the law and permit to march to the National Parliament Buildings to hand over a memorandum."

While Hill-Lewis acknowledged EFF's right to protest, he did mention that it shouldn't allow any kind of "thuggery aimed at terrorizing members of the public."

Hill-Lewis assured the people of Cape Town that they will be able to go to their daily business on March 20 and if any damage has been made to the public infrastructure, then the "City will not hesitate to lay a civil claim against the EFF, given the public threats made to date."

The mayor further shared that his focus is to grow the economy and allow people to work so that they can make a living for themselves, noting "there will be no national shutdown in Cape Town."

Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde also shared similar sentiments regarding the national shutdown and said these kinds of threats to businesses are unacceptable.

"The EFF has the constitutional right to protest, but it is intolerable for them to threaten the constitutional rights of other citizens, especially where essential services such as individual safety, healthcare and education are concerned," he said. "This protest, as misguided as it is, should only proceed within the law."