The EFF’s calls for a nationwide shutdown on March 20 have brought flashbacks of the July 2021 unrest. [Picture: AFP]
The South African Muslim Network’s (SAMNET) Dr Faisal Suliman has warned of a growing divide between racial groups. He also said incitement to violence against particular groups justified them taking necessary precautionary measures ahead of the Economic Freedom Fighter’s (EFF) shutdown.
The Durban-based group’s chairperson was speaking in an interview on Salaamedia. He warned the shutdown, planned for March 20, could easily spiral into racially-motivated violence similar to what occurred in Phoenix during the July 2021 unrest.
“This is one of the problems … the absolute breakdown of law and order. It’s going to end up with tit-for-tat racism,” he cautioned.
He said this would be the result of an absence of law and order, adding that an economic divide – perceived or genuine – between groups was “clearly getting worse” as it was fuelled by social media.
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Threats of violent shutdown
Last week, a widely-circulated video showed EFF members urging businesses to shut their doors on the day of the shutdown, or face the risk of being looted.
“We are saying to you, close down all your businesses to avoid the looting. Close down all your shops to avoid the looting. Close down all your factories to avoid the lootings,” boomed the voice from a loudspeaker on the back of a bakkie.
Dr Suliman said such comments would have been dealt with properly by law enforcement agencies if they were functioning properly. “It’s a pity that we have a government that is absolutely spineless in various ways, so you can have people provoke on social media and incite to violence,” he added.
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Condemnation
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) shadow minister of State Security Natasha Mazonne called upon authorities to ensure safety ahead of the shutdown.
“The DA calls on the forces of law and order to ensure that the rights of every South African are protected during this stay away and that any looting [or] damage to property is dealt with swiftly and with the full might of the law. We cannot have a repeat of what we saw in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng in July of 2021,” she said.
Dr Suliman told the public to be prepared for any eventuality, “We have to defend ourselves if necessary. One hopes it doesn’t come to that, but certainly in terms of the protection of your private property, your business … I don’t think we need to be afraid to learn how to defend ourselves and do that.”
Meanwhile the EFF’s spokesperson Leigh Ann-Mathys said it was the police service’s responsibility to ensure safety on the day of the shutdown.
“They need to root out any criminal elements before it starts happening because it’s bound to happen, I’m sure. Any protest on this level or national shutdown on this level, criminals are going to take opportunities,” she said.
