19:00 (SAST)
While the ANC has ruled the national shutdown as a failure, the EFF has called it a success. With little to no violence reported, it seems like the protest went off without any trouble.
The National Shutdown was a success!
From Cape Town to Musina, Mahikeng to Richards Bay, the mighty EFF presence put the country on hold to call for the resignation of Ramaphosa
It’s No Retreat, No Surrender!#RamaphosaMustGo #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/phT6xyhon4
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 20, 2023
16:00 (SAST)
After a heated debate between police and protestors, EFF members have decided to re-route their protest and avoid going through Florida Road
After a heated exchange with the police, EFF members have abide by the police directive of not passing through Florida Road and redirected their protest. @TimesLIVE #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/pVrgY04MO7
— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) March 20, 2023
[WATCH] Police and @eThekwiniM police officers are trying to prevent members of the EFF from protesting on Florida road, in Durban. Party secretary general @mzingisimarshal and @EFFStudents president Sihle Lonzi, are also here. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/iEw4Clff2J
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 20, 2023
15:43 (SAST)
The protestors have reached the Presidential residence in Pretoria. They have vowed to stay there until the president comes to speak to them.
The EFF is now outside the Presidential residence in Pretoria. The party’s leader Julius Malema says they will stay here until the president avails himself to the red berets. @Alpha_Mero25 pic.twitter.com/WiCTwHM9yO
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 20, 2023
Carl Niehaus and Julius Malema take a break after reaching their destination
15:40 (SAST)
EFF National Chairperson, Veronica Mente, addressed the protestors in Cape Town before heading to their planned march to parliament. She called for an end to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government. EFF national leaders and provincial leaders are making their way to parliament.
[WATCH]#EFFNationalShutdown EFF national and provincial leaders leading a march to parliament this afternoon. EFF national chairperson Veronica Mente says they can’t sit and allow things to remain the same in the country pic.twitter.com/CEpPCtHSI3
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 20, 2023
15:20 (SAST)
EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini is leading hundreds of EFF members towards Florida Road. They are being watched carefully by police services.
The EFF Secretary General @DlaminiMarshall leading Fighters in a demonstration at eThekwini
The longer Ramaphosa remains the President of this country, the more likely it will be that future generations will not have a country to inherit.#NationalShutdown #RamaphosaMustGo pic.twitter.com/d1I4vXn0M5
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 20, 2023
Hundreds of EFF members are now approaching Florida Road in Durban under the watchful eye of the police, metro police, and private security. @TimesLIVE #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/Vexz0TEnTu
— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) March 20, 2023
The EFF Treasurer General, Omphile Maotwe, and other members have now occupied the N4 in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga.
♦️In Pictures♦️
The EFF Treasurer General @OmphileMaotwe and fighters have occupied the N4 in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga.
The EFF has called for a #NationalShutdown on the 20th of March. The demand is simple, #RamaphosaMustGo pic.twitter.com/NaaTYODlLt
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 20, 2023
13:30 (SAST)
EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, says they are protesting peacefully and “against all odds” the protest is carrying on as planned. According to Dlamini busses carrying EFF supporters were stopped and this is why the numbers are not as large as they expected but they are still happy with the turn out.
“We have been told not to go to the white and Indian dominated places like Umhlanga and Phoenix, but to march to the black dominated area only,” says the EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini. @TimesLIVE #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/O1cpxGC6bx
— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) March 20, 2023
E13:28 (SAST)
Julius Malema is joined by EFF Commissioner, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, and Carl Niehaus as they make their way to the Union Buildings.
Photo: Ponty Moletsane
13:10 (SAST)
After being addressed by Malema, protestors make their way towards the Union Buildings.
[WATCH] Protesters are now heading towards the Union Buildings. #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/Elv1rm79FP
— Salaamedia (@salaamedia) March 20, 2023
12:40 (SAST)
Malema continues to address the masses stating they are “going to do this until 12am. We are still on”.
“Police must act with restraint. They must talk to us. Not this apartheid tactics that we are being subjected to.”
Malema: They put soldiers on the street to intimidate you, but you did not show the soldiers your back. #NationalShutdown
— Salaamedia (@salaamedia) March 20, 2023
12:35 (SAST)
Julius Malema, EFF leader, has arrived at Church Square. He is addressing EFF members and those who are at the march declaring it the most successful shutdown.
Malema: What is the message? Ramaphosa must go. What is the message? High unemployment, high crime, increasing poverty. #NationalShutdown
— Salaamedia (@salaamedia) March 20, 2023
12:20 (SAST)
EFF paint the capital red as they gather at Church Square, Pretoria.
[WATCH] Pretoria’s Church Square is coloured in red as EFF members gather in the capital. #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/UqEcLoufDy
— Salaamedia (@salaamedia) March 20, 2023
12:13 (SAST)
Various organisations have gathered with the EFF at Church Square, Pretoria to make their voices heard. Police are on the scene.
[PICTURES] @EFFSouthAfrica and several other organisations have gathered at Church Square, Pretoria, amid heavy police presence. #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/W9bdMFquzh
— Salaamedia (@salaamedia) March 20, 2023
11:55 (SAST)
According to Sandton CPF, buses of protestors have arrived at Pan Africa Mall to join their fellow protestors and march into Sandton. The destination point has not been confirmed yet. Services are on scene and monitoring.
11:53 (SAST)
An EFF member with his message to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Photo: Zahid Jadwat
11:35 (SAST)
EFF members being led by party’s Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini. Along their way to Durban’s city centre, they called out to residents to come out and march with them. Shops in Berea and town close as EFF members fill the streets.
EFF members in KZN being led by the party’s Secretary-General Marshall Dlamini have now entered the city centre in their peaceful march. Businesses have all closed shops with West Street on a standstill.@TimesLIVE #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/buN2fHsuKO
— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) March 20, 2023
10:14 (SAST)
The home of the @EFFSouthAfrica Provincial Secretary, @moshekoi was raided by police this morning. #sabcnews #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/1bkBx2fltu
— Natasha Nokuthula Phiri (@NatashaN_Phiri) March 20, 2023
09:17 (SAST)
It appears to be business as usual in the coastal city of Durban amid the national shutdown. There is heavy police presence in the city that was one of the areas hardest-hit by the July 2021 unrest.
6h03
It’s business as usual in the Durban CBD as people are going about their day amid the EFF’s national shutdown today. There is either SAPS, metro or private security vehicle parked in almost every corner. This is a situation also in many areas around Durban. @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/e5wZe59gT2
— Sakhiseni Nxumalo (@SakhiNxumalo) March 20, 2023
09:13 (SAST)
Metrobus in Johannesburg says it will continue operating today, with minor diversions in some areas.
Given the National shutdown pronouncements, Metrobus is operating a full service as promised throughout the weekend, although we had to divert buses in places such as Soweto.
However operations are proceeding smoothly so far. pic.twitter.com/zhcMdIveci— Joburg Metrobus (@JoburgMetrobus) March 20, 2023
09:09 (SAST)
Students who were arrested while protesting in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on the eve of the shutdown have been released. At least 87 people were arrested across the country for public violence since the start of the so-called national shutdown.
♦️In Pictures♦️
All the students who were violently and illegally arrested by police in Braamfontein for peaceful protest are released
The cowards of SAPS who target young women will never win!
It’s Now Or Never! Join the #NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/v6AsQ2p7FW
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 20, 2023
08:56 (SAST)
The EFF has for its part said the ‘alarmist’ response to their protest will only work in their favour by drawing the masses to the streets.
“The alarmist manner in which the security cluster has acted in deploying law enforcement numbers comparable to those last seen during the state of emergency in 1985 to 1989 will not deter our people,” EFF spokesperson Sinawo Tambo told News24.
08:05 (SAST)
Over 3000 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have been deployed to assist police today. This prompted the EFF to decry Ramaphosa’s administration as a ‘dictatorship’. Below is the SANDF stationed outside the Union Buildings in the capital, Pretoria.
PICTURES: Members of the SANDF outside the Union Buildings. #NationalShutdown @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/DtMOnVQ58O
— Thabo Tshabalala (@Thabo_Tshaba) March 20, 2023
08:04 (SAST)
The usually bustling Musgrave Road in Durban, resembles a ghost town this morning@TimesLIVE@yasantha pic.twitter.com/CoLaA1zo7J
— Suthentira Govender (@SuthentiraG) March 20, 2023
08:00 (SAST)
The number of those arrested for public violence since the start of the EFF’s national shutdown has now risen to 87 people. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed 41 were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in the North West and 15 in the Free State.
07:56 (SAST)
In his weekly presidential newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the opportunity to discourage protestors from harassing, intimidating and threatening people. The right to protest, he wrote, “does not give anyone the right to damage property or cause harm to any person.”
“It is well within the right of any person or organisation to call on fellow South Africans to freely join in acts of protest. But no one should be forced, threatened or intimidated into joining that protest,” he wrote.
07:51 (SAST)
Police have impounded around 17 000 tyres in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.
[IMPOUNDED] These are some of the tyres found by @SAPoliceService in the Western Cape, the province alone had 6 000 tyres impounded, 11 000 were taken off the streets in the Eastern Cape. Tyres are used to blockade roads and cause descriptions during protests . #Nationalshutdown pic.twitter.com/xUnaS3li2V
— Lirandzu Themba (@LirandzuThemba) March 20, 2023
07:46 (SAST)
Bus company PUTCO has suspended its service in Gauteng after at least two incidents affecting their buses. In Soweto, one of their buses was stoned. The bus service will remain suspended until further notice.
07:42 (SAST)
Police Minister Bheki Cele confirms the arrests of 57 people linked to the shutdown, mostly in Gauteng. Cele addressed the media at Arthur Block Park in Mayfair, Johannesburg this morning. Th minister claims that residents of Soweto and KwaMashu assisted police in preventing attempts to loot businesses.
“Most were found making fires, blocking roads and trying to prevent people from going to work. They were not peaceful,” he said.
07:35 (SAST)
Good morning and welcome to Salaamedia’s live coverage of the planned nationwide shutdown. There have been several sporadic incidents overnight, with strong action from law enforcement authorities. So far, 57 people have been arrested across the country. Stay tuned for more updates as the day progresses.
