Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has threatened to unleash the “mother of all protests” which he said would bring South Africa to a stand still on 20 March, as the opposition pressurises the government to end load shedding.
Malema made the announcement at a press briefing on Sunday, saying the event would make the Zuma Must Fall protest look like “Micky Mouse”.
“The national shutdown means that there will be no school, no university, factories and no business will be operating on that day.
“All municipalities and all major cities will be shut down and there will be no work on that day. All major roads will be barricaded and all ports of entry, including roads that leader to borders, will be closed.
“No business operations will be opened on that day and no truck, and no train will be allowed on the roads and railways, particularly the trucks transporting South Africa’s minerals and coal to outside South Africa through Richards Bay.”
Malema said the streets will only be open for essential services and emergency purposes.
According to the EFF, the shutdown would also be spurred on by, among other things, the rising cost of living, unemployment and poverty, increasing crime levels, corruption and collapsing infrastructure.
Meanwhile about a week ago, civil rights group #NotInMyName marched to the Union Building in Pretoria, demanding an end to the indefinite load shedding and the approved electricity price hike.
Speaking to IOL during the march, #NotInMyName president, Siyabulela Jentile said President Cyril Ramaphosa has been found wanting during the load shedding crisis.
“The Presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa has been characterised by apologies and shock. So, we are not surprised or convinced by his latest actions. He has apologised and cancelled his trip but there is no practical intervention that we have seen from his side,” said Jentile.
Source: News24, IOL, Jacaranda FM, image from Twitter: @Nhleiks5