Julius Malema addressing the media regarding the planned national shutdown Photo Nasreen Naidoo
Johannesburg – Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema addressed the media on Wednesday ahead of the party’s impending nationwide shutdown. Malema started the briefing by reiterating the objective of the national shutdown is to call for the “resignation of the president, the demand to end loadshedding and bring to light the issues that affect young people”.
There has been growing concern from various parties about the national shutdown. The Democratic Alliance launched a legal bid to stop the mass gathering. However, Malema said they have no grounds for it and have approved the protest in the Western Cape.
“They are not interdicting the protest. They say they are interdicting violence and intimidation which has never happened. How do you interdict non-existent things? The DA has actually approved the EFF’s protest in the Western Cape. How do you approve something today and tomorrow you want to appear as if you don’t want something to happen?”
According to Malema, they have obtained information which implies the DA are planning to plant “agent provocateurs” in order to stir trouble and bring disrepute to the EFF’s message and name. Malema urged EFF protestors to protest peacefully but “anyone who comes with nonsense, do not tolerate it”.
EFF will not take responsibility for damages or loss of life
The July Riots of 2021 is still fresh in the minds of many who live in KwaZulu-Natal. There are fears looting and burning of shops can occur again. If this is to happen, Malema said the EFF will not take responsibility for any loss of life or damage caused during the protest.
“We said we are not going to damage any property therefore we will not take responsibility for any damaged property. Police have the responsibility to arrest criminals. Anyone who damages anyone’s property will face law enforcement. You can only come back to us if we said to be violent. We have never said that.”
Should any EFF members participate in looting or the damaging of property, the party will take internal steps to discipline such people, said Malema.
Should the protest spill over into the following days, the EFF will not take responsibility for any damage caused then. This will be a sign for the party that the country wants the same as they do, explained Malema.
No starting or ending point for the national shutdown
According to Malema, there is no starting or ending point to the national shutdown. It is a protest and not a march so they “require no permit from anyone” or to march to a specific place. Instead, Malema has called for all those who wish to take part to protest wherever they feel their voices will be heard.
“There is no starting point or finishing point. Fighters, wherever they are, are going to gather and then protest. It is as simple as that … Identify strategic points where you can go, occupy and make your voice heard … If you can be heard at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, why not? Go and occupy the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and protest there. Anywhere where the people can be heard. At the border gate, at the harbour, at Richards Bay. Anywhere.”
No work, no pay policy
The no work, no pay policy has many worried they won’t get paid if they are unable to attend work Monday because of the national shutdown. Malema called this an unfair practice and the EFF labour desk will be “ready at all levels, in all corners of South Africa to represent those workers”.
“How do you apply no work, no pay when I decided I’m coming to work but the roads are closed by protestors? It happens everyday in South Africa where the roads are closed and we can’t go to work. What happens in that context? That is what is going to happen. No one can say to a worker they didn’t come to work, they went to the protest therefore they cannot be paid. No.”
Malema stated that essential workers will not be stopped from going to work. Healthcare workers, police officers and so forth will be allowed to go to work. These areas will not be disturbed by protestors.
Using other means of protest besides the national shutdown
The South African constitution allows politicians and parties to raise their concerns in parliament. There are those who have questioned why the EFF is heading down this route instead of taking it to parliament. To this, Malema pointed out they have used other means and are continuing to do so.
“We are not using this method only. We were kicked [out] in parliament raising the same matter. So there is no one single method of raising your dissatisfaction. We are using parliament, which we did during the State of Address, as a way of protest. Now we are going to the streets as well.”
Malema was quick to point out that many have criticised him for raising his concerns in parliament and now they are doing the same for the protest. All types of methods are being used including the courts and the ad hoc committee.
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Tackling the issue of loadshedding
Loadshedding has crippled the economy and many small businesses have closed down because of it. Malema has called for media personnel, people who live in the townships and businesses to come for the protest to show the government the severity of loadshedding. He also extended a personal invite to the Indian community who are “the hardest hit” during loadshedding.
“Small businesses, by the way, majority of small businesses in South Africa are Indian. I expect a lot of Indians on the streets because they’re the ones who are hit hard. They are the ones who run small businesses, small shops, small fish and chips here. They are the ones who should be hitting the streets. We expect them there.”
The economic damage of the national shutdown
As the country reels from being grey listed, interest rate increases, inflation skyrocketing and soaring fuel prices, the business community and economists fear things will only get worse for the country. The national shutdown could bring the economy to a grinding halt at the worst time. However, Malema is adamant the president should be blamed for the collapsing economy, not the national shutdown.
“Economic damage is led by Ramaphosa. With such high unemployment, with the economy collapsing, with business closing, with electricity not being provided, you want to turn around and blame the EFF for that? No. It is going to become worse if we don’t stop Ramaphosa now.”
Should the president listen to the calls and step down, leadership will engage in talks to figure out how the economy can be recovered, said Malema.
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Views of various parties and organisations regarding the national shutdown
EFF will be joined by the Land Party, United Democratic Movement, SA Federation of Trade Unions and the African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (ARETA) amongst others. Carl Niehaus, Chairperson of ARETA, backs Malema and feels those who talk about violence occurring are just sprouting propaganda.
“I really object to people who immediately try to use propaganda to say a peaceful national shutdown, which is legal and constitutional, will turn into violence and attacks on private property. This is not the case. It is propaganda to try and repress the concerns that we have.”
On the issue of the national shutdown costing the country millions and stalling the economy, Niehaus believes it will not cost the country as much as Ramaphosa’s government has cost the country. The cost of all the blackouts and misadministration needs to be taken into account.
However, while Michael Beaumont, National Chairperson at ActionSA, agrees that loadshedding, greylisting and the spiralling cost of inflation is killing citizens, a national shutdown is not the answer. It does nothing but hurt ordinary South Africans.
“The solution is not to continue to assault South Africans business owners, the unemployed and the employed by giving them more hardship because ultimately Cyril Ramaphosa is not being punished by the national shutdown. Ordinary South Africans are being punished while there’s a national shutdown and we’ve spoken out against it. We are calling for South Africans to continue with their responsibilities and their work.”
In the aftermath of the EFF’s media briefing, the ANC released a statement saying the national shutdown “is neither in the interest of the country nor does it advance our hard-worn democracy”. They believe this protest demonstrates that the EFF has no interest in building a cohesive nation.
The ANC has called for all “peace loving South Africans” to not support the shutdown and for businesses and industry to resist the “strong-arm” tactics of the EFF.
