By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has hailed what appears to have been a damp squib shutdown a great success.
Addressing thousands of EFF supporters in the main march in Church Square in Tshwane, Malema said this shutdown was the most successful, compared to others before it.
“This is the most successful shutdown in the history of shutdowns,” Juju said.
But in reality, the EFF national shutdown could not even take off in South Africa’s biggest townships of Soweto in Johannesburg, Mdantsane in East London, Khayelitsha in Cape Town or Umlazi in Durban.
The main CBDs of Johannesburg, Sandton – where the JSE is located – Cape Town and Gqeberha all resemble a normal day during a long weekend.
Zwelinzima Vavi, the general secretary of the SA Federation of Trade Unions who joined the protest, said they were not formal allies of the EFF but they supported the issues raised by the Fighters.
The shutdown was also joined by Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson Mzwanele Jimmy Manyi along with expelled MKMVA leader Carl Niehaus.
Vuyo Zungula, the leader of the African Transformation Movement, who is championing efforts to impeach President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Phala Phala Farm robbery cover-up, also joined forces with the EFF.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula defended the deployment of the military, saying they learned the hard way during the July 2021 unrest.
“In South Africa there is no place or tolerance for vigilantism and forceful removal of an incumbent government.”
Police Minister Bheki Cele said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure arrested 87 protesters across the country for public violence-related offences.
Of the 87 arrested, 41 were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in North West, 15 in Free State, the police confirmed in a statement.
“At least 24,300 tyres have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies. These were tyres that were strategically placed for acts of criminality.
“Six thousand were seized in the Western Cape, 4,500 in the Free State, 3,600 in Gauteng, 1,513 in the Eastern Cape and a few in other provinces.”
Pictured above: Julius Malema during the National Shutdown
Image source: EFF South Africa
