The DA in Ekurhuleni takes a stand against EFF Intimidation and threats of Violence

by Cllr. Raymond Dhlamini — DA Caucus Chairperson in Ekurhuleni

Date: 16 March 2023

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

Ahead of the “National Shutdown”/ March planned by the EFF on Monday, 20 March 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni would like to assure the residents that the City has put in place, a range of safety and contingency measures to ensure as far possible, a peaceful day of protest.

The DA has been inundated by calls from concerned residents, who have expressed their apprehensions and their fears around the march.

There is mounting evidence on social media and in public statements by EFF leaders, members, and supporters that they are fully prepared to break the law in pursuit of their own political agenda.

We reject outright the EFF’s call for a “nationwide shutdown” and would like to assure our residents that the DA takes the EFF’s threats seriously.

As announced by the Executive Mayor of the Multi-Party Coalition, Ald. Tania Campbell on the 16th of March 2023, the City has activated a cross-departmental strategy to ensure that the residents as well as properties within the City are protected. Metro police, healthcare services and transport officials will be working together to ensure that the day of protest occurs in a peaceful manner.

The right to undertake peaceful protest action is a legitimate constitutional right and the DA will defend this right, whether it is the DA, the EFF, or any other group or individual that is protesting.

But this right is not unlimited, and it can never constitute justification for criminal behaviour, or behaviour that violates or threatens the rights of others. Just as people have the right to protest, they also have the right to not protest, the right to not associate with the protesting organisation, and the right to go to school or to work or to operate a business, and also to go about their daily lives unhindered and unobstructed.

The DA will therefore do whatever we can to protect the rights of “others” within the confines of the law so that they are able to disassociate from the EFF and their cause, and are able to exercise their rights to go to work, school, and operate businesses.

We will not sit back and allow the EFF to threaten businesses, livelihoods, and lives.

As such, the DA has taken several steps at national level to pre-empt the pending violence and prevent it from taking place, or at the very least lessen the potential harm it poses to citizens of this country.

This includes, amongst others:

• Legal action against the EFF for the rampant intimidation and threats of violence peddled by their members across the country ahead of the so-called “National Shutdown”.
• Writing to the Minister of Defence to ensure that they put on standby adequate soldiers for deployment as well as make resources available in order to ensure that there is no outbreak of violence and looting.
• Writing to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to highlight the imminent threat posed to the economy, public and private infrastructure, as well as to the safety of citizens.
• Requesting Minister Cele to issue a strong statement against the National Shutdown and assuring South Africans that the SAPS and the entire security cluster are on standby to respond to violence.
• Writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to issue a stern preemptive warning that no violence, vandalism, or intimidation will be tolerated and that any such behaviour will meet the full force of the law.
• Pressing charges against the EFF and holding them personally liable for any damage done to a person, property, lives, and livelihoods as a result of the shutdown.

Where the DA governs it will be business as usual. Our Law Enforcement and Traffic Services personnel will work closely with SAPS to maintain law and order and to hold any acts of vandalism and violence to account.

Those responsible for vandalism or violence will be arrested. The DA is committed to creating a safe society, growing the economy, and to create an environment that is conducive to economic growth and job creation.

Cllr. Raymond Dhlamini

DA Caucus Chairperson in the City of Ekurhuleni