A group of about 40 organisations, mainly NGOs including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Helen Suzman Foundation, the Right to Know Campaign, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) and the Anglican Church among others, have come out against the planned shutdown spearheaded by the EFF for Monday, March 20.
In a statement issued by the Defend our Democracy campaign on their behalf, the organisations said every South African has the Constitutional right of choice, association, movement, safety and freedom of expression, and the responsibility to similarly uphold the rights of others in this regard.
“Therefore, any attempt at preventing those who may not support the shutdown from going to work, to school or to university, infringes on their Constitutional rights.
“Insisting that roads will be shut down and that no trucks, trains or buses will move, and hinting that businesses that remain open could be looted are subtle forms of intimidation that must be called out.
“We challenge the notion that a forcible shutdown is an accepted norm of protest. There is a clear distinction between the Constitutional right to protest or to canvass support for a stay away, and the fear mongering and forced shutdown of the country.
“South Africa is already in crisis, as evidenced by the daily load shedding, poor service delivery, poverty, unemployment, hunger, continued state capture and corruption, and malfeasance. Actions that only seek to deepen the crisis for narrow party-political gains can never be the solution.
“We need not think too far back to the July 2021 insurrection, to be reminded of whose interests anarchy serves. Destabilisation benefits those who wish to avoid accountability, and those who are against upholding the rule of law.
“It is no wonder that some individuals who were seemingly supportive of the July 2021 chaos, are now backing the EFF’s call to shut the country down.
“We call on law enforcement to act against any form of intimidation and violence that may unfold before, during and after the shutdown. Law enforcement must ensure that highways are not blocked, and the rights of the ordinary public are protected.
“The president of the country, premiers across all provinces and mayors of towns and cities must act to prevent possible violence, destruction to property and looting.
“Public representatives should be providing leadership, and calling out all forms of intimidation. While we await the outcome of the City of Cape Town’s interdict against the shutdown, governments at all levels must prepare to counter potential violence that may unfold.
“We don’t want to hear after the fact from the state’s security cluster that they were caught unawares, as had been the case in July 2021. We hope that the relevant ministries and state institutions are well prepared to ensure that law and order is maintained.
“We also call on communities to be alert. Residents must organise themselves in conjunction with police and Community Policing Forums to ensure that people remain safe and to maintain peace.
“That democratic change and renewal is urgently needed in South Africa is beyond doubt. The choice of whether this will be through constitutional and democratic means of mass destruction is what the shutdown compels us to deal with”.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has instructed the police to use ‘minimum’ force against those who want to use violence or break the law during Monday’s protest action.
