This week, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema reiterated that his party would hold the protest mainly to demand the resignation of the president and an end to the country’s power outages.
Referring to the EFF’s demands, Ramaphosa assured that a change of government in South Africa could only happen through a vote; “cannot by anarchy or disorder.”
The right to protest, he reminded, is enshrined in our constitution and something we as South Africans fought and won for. However, he clarified, “It is a restricted right that violence not be encouraged.”
If EFF members spiral out of control, law enforcement officers will defend our people from any planned attempt to destabilize the country.
Also today, Presidency Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni warned all those who will be involved in the national lockdown to ensure there is no public violence and intimidation.
South Africa, he said, is a country governed by law, so any display of lawlessness will not be tolerated during Monday’s protest.
Referring to the purpose of the EFF, Ntshavheni asserted that “regime change by unconstitutional means will not be tolerated in South Africa”.
ro/mv