Police Minister Bheki Cele confirmed that 87 arrests had already been made by Monday morning during the national shutdown.
Speaking at a media briefing, Cele confirmed that despite the EFF stating the protest would be peaceful, this had not been the case.
Several incidents of violence were reported to the police which led to the arrests. The number of arrests were expected to rise throughout the day.
Cele said that Gauteng had the most arrests so far, with the Free State next, and the Eastern Cape recording the third-highest number of arrests.
“From this we will go take them and charge them, but they are not peaceful,” Cele said.
“They interfere with people who go to work, burn the tires, block the road and tell the people not to go to work. They even tramp on the roof of their cars.”
The EFF has raised concerns that their leaders were being intimidated by law enforcement.
“We are concerned by some of the reports we are receiving of intimidation,” said EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Tambo.
“Law enforcement officials were going door-to-door without warrants, searching and seizing placards from some of our members, asking them who the leaders of the protests were. It’s unacceptable,” Tambo told News24.
Compiled by Staff Writer
Pictured above: Police on standby during National Shutdown
Image source: EFF South Africa
