Day: March 20, 2023

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in in the Eastern Cape says various security measures have been put in place to ensure that lawlessness, possible damage to property and looting are prevented.

This follows the announcement by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that they will be taking to the streets in a planned national shutdown on Monday and have called on all South Africans to participate.

“The SAPS in concert with other law enforcement agencies in the Eastern Cape have confirmed that all forces are ready to protect lives and property during the planned national protest.

“All law enforcement forces have already been deployed throughout the province, in identified strategic points and hotspots. The SAPS is confident and also wants to ensure that the people of Eastern Cape including their property remain protected,” the SAPS said on Sunday.

The SAPS said the deployment of massive security forces will not in any way disrupt the normal day to day activities of the public, but it is meant to ensure that the public will be able to go about their normal business and remain safe and protected from any possible intimidation or harm by opportunistic criminal elements.

“As such, the SAPS management has warned all those whose intentions is to create disorder in the province to rethink their plans or face the strong arm of the law. Whilst the police recognise the constitutional right of every individual to protest, unruly behaviours and criminality will however not be tolerated,” the SAPS said.

Members of the community are urged to report any act of criminality at the nearest police station or contact the Crime Stop number on 086 00 10 111.

Source: South African Government News Agency

With the country due to commemorate Human Rights Day tomorrow, President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africans should recall that the rights they enjoy today are the result of great sacrifices.

In his weekly newsletter to the nation, he said the right to protest should not infringe on the rights of others. The President said that South Africans should be clear that the right to protest does not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate or threaten anyone else.

He added that it does not give anyone the right to damage property or cause harm to any person.

“One person’s right to protest should in no way infringe on any other person’s right to life and dignity. It should not impede their freedom of movement and association, or their right to engage in their trade or profession without hindrance,” he said on Monday.

The President’s comments come as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have embarked on a national shutdown.

“The rights that are enshrined in our Constitution cannot be taken for granted. Too many lives have been lost and too many people have suffered so that we may all be protected by a Bill of Rights that applies to all laws and that is the cornerstone of our democracy,” the President said.

The President said that as South Africans remember the events of 21 March 1960, when 69 peaceful protestors in Sharpeville were killed by the apartheid police, they need to be resolute in their defence of the right to peaceful protest.

The President emphasised that the Constitution is clear that the state must “respect, protect, promote and fulfil” all the freedoms contained in the Bill of Rights.

“Therefore, just as the state has a duty to uphold the right to peaceful protest, it has a responsibility to prevent any attempt to violate any of the other rights in the Constitution.

“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,” the President said.

In fulfilment of its constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of all people, the President said that government will always have measures in place to ensure that everyone who wants to go to work, travel for leisure and conduct business can do so in a safe and secure environment.

He said these measures include the deployment of security personnel across the country to ensure that law is observed.

The President emphasised that government will not allow anyone or any group to take the freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights away from them. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality says it strongly condemns the call for a shutdown in the city and will not tolerate any incitement to commit violence or intimidation of those who do not wish to participate.

“The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality will not shutdown during these tough economic times we need to open our economy – not shut it down,” the Mayor’s Office said.

“Whilst we respect the right to protest, South Africa is a Constitutional State that subscribes to the rule of law.”

The city said the planned protests led by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) falls on the day before we celebrate Human Rights Day on 21 March 2023, when many South Africans celebrate the dignity afforded to them by the South African Constitution.

“We want to assure the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay that 20 March 2023 will be a normal business day, contrary to the pronouncement by those advocating for any disruption.”

Meanwhile, the municipality said it has put measures in place to ensure that everyone who wants to go to work, travel for leisure and conduct business on this day does so in a safe and secure environment.

In addition, the city said anyone who intimidates, stops anyone from going to work, barricades the roads and highways and uses any form of violence to try and stop people from going on with their lives will face the full might of the law.

The Executive Mayor, Retief Odendaal, said the safety of citizens, property and infrastructure remains as the top priority.

“The impact of the planned shutdown will also have a significant impact on the city’s economy, and we cannot allow that. As an employee, you have the right to go to your place of employment; nobody can deprive you of that. The problem with the South African economy is that it’s not inclusive, but you won’t get a more inclusive economy by shutting it down.”

The city said the Nelson Mandela Bay law enforcement officers will be out in their numbers to protect the residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, whilst enforcing the law.

In addition, the South African Police Service (SAPS), metro police, traffic services, fire department, private security companies and neighbourhood watches will be working together to ensure citizens can move freely in and around the city.

“Our law enforcement agencies are ready to deal with anyone who seeks to cause disorder or anarchy. Acts of violence, intimidation and destruction of property are criminal offences and the police must arrest and prosecute those who commit such acts,” said Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Safety and Security, Lawrence Troon.

Meanwhile, the city said most communities and various sectors including various taxi associations, Road Freight Association, and organised structures have rejected the call to shutdown.

The municipality has urged residents to report incidents to the SAPS as swift action will be taken against any perpetrators.

“Our country has witnessed senseless acts of violence, destruction of property and assets and the loss of life, all in the name of protests. We respect the right to peaceful protests for which the Constitution makes provision, we are condemning the incitement to violence and the intimidation and blatant threats to people’s lives and livelihoods."

The Nelson Mandela Bay calls on communities, faith leaders, our organised labour movement, formations of women, youth and our business sector, to join hands and condemn those seeking to wreak havoc.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Police Minister Bheki Cele has confirmed that it is business as usual with people commuting to work despite the planned national shutdown taking place on Monday.

“There has been a few incidents few but I saw nothing indicating a shutdown because a shutdown is when life stops, that is how it is organized. The situation been normal I checked eThekwini life is normal and I checked Cape Town, life is normal,” the Minister said on Monday.

The Minister was also on the helicopter that was monitoring various areas in Gauteng.

Addressing members of the media in Soweto, Cele said that police had responded to the few incidents where people attempted to break the law.

The Minister was visiting families that were affected by the public violence and malicious damage to property after an explosion caused damage to a house in Pimville, Soweto. There were injuries that were reported as a result of the incident.

“Clearly, there is thuggery and criminality. The damage seems to be significant and it does look like the explosion was powerful. We hope the police will be able to find the perpetrators. We are taking the matter seriously, that is why our forensic people and Hawks are here,” Cele said.

Police seized some sharp nails that were leftover from the commercial explosives. They have indicated that the explosives that were used in the explosion are oftern used in mines and during ATM bombings.

The Minister confirmed that law enforcement officers through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) arrested 87 protestors across the country for public violence related offences.

The arrests follows the announcement by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that they will be taking to the streets in a planned national shutdown on Monday.

Forty-one people were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in North West and 15 in Free State.

At least 24 300 tyres have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies. These were tyres that were strategically placed for acts of criminality.

About 6 000 tyres were seized in the Western Cape, 4 500 in the Free State, 3 600 in Gauteng, 1 513 in the Eastern Cape and a few in other provinces. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

The Ethekwini Municipality has assures residents of their safety during today’s planned national shutdown with measures implemented.

In a statement on Monday, the Municipality said that this includes additional Metro Police officers being deployed to all communities in response to the shutdown by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

“The City assures the public that all roads in eThekwini are clear and safe for motorists to use. The Metro Police is out in full force to guard against any criminal activity and lawlessness.

“The M25, from Dube Village to Bester, has been cleared following a brief closure earlier this morning. The Metro Police, South African Police Service, and other law enforcement agencies are ready to respond swiftly to any reported disruptions,” the Municipality said.

The Municipality said that so far, there have been no reports of looting or violent protests reported. –SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

SAPS management asserts authority over isolated incidents

The South African Police Service Management in the Eastern Cape has so far expressed satisfaction with the manner in which the Police on the ground have exercised their authority in ensuring peace and stability during the countrywide Shutdown Protests.

This atmosphere of stability must be attributed to the strictest security measures put in place ahead of the national shutdown. The integration of law enforcement agencies has been deployed in various parts of the Province in order to prevent any possibility of criminal activities which could arise during the protest actions.

On the eve of the protest marches, some parts of the Eastern Cape have witnessed attempts by a few individuals to undermine the authority of the security forces in deployments. They burnt tyres and put rubble on the roads, but all their plans were frustrated by the alert police who were ready to stop their actions. All the national roads, highways and byways including business properties are operating well and without any serious incidents reported.

The SAPS is confident that the people of Eastern Cape including their property remain protected and safe. There is calm in all the areas where the criminal elements attempted to create a negative image of the Eastern Cape Province. Isolated incidents such as in Mdantsane in the early morning, were perpetrated by a few individuals who could not even be identified with known organisations. When the police arrived in those areas, the opportunistic criminal elements disappeared and they never resurfaced.

SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene has once again warned against acts of criminality and unruly behaviours. “As the police we recognise the right of the people to protest as enshrined in the constitution, but if this right is abused and infringes on the rights of others, as security forces, we are obligated to act and act decisively against such elements. So far, I can confidently say we are in control of the situation, we have managed to drive away those who wanted to take advantage in the morning. There is calm as we speak and we continue to keep a close eye in the situation.” Lieutenant General Mene said.

Source: Government of South Africa