Lawlessness and chaos will not be tolerated during any protest, President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned ahead of the Economic Freedom Fighters’ planned national shutdown on Monday.
Ramaphosa was speaking during a media briefing to mark the official state visit of Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, and her delegation on Thursday. The EFF has planned protest action and called for a national shutdown on Monday, 20 March.
“South Africa is governed by the rule of law. We are a constitutional democracy. Regime change can only come about through the vote. It cannot come about through anarchy, unleashing disorder in the country,” Ramaphosa said.
“I want to say very clearly: disorder and anarchy will not be allowed in South Africa. We will not allow those who want to spread anarchy to do what they like here in South Africa.”
Ramaphosa said although the right to protest was guaranteed in the Constitution, this did not mean the rights of others could be infringed.
“That right is not absolute and nobody can stand up and say I can do whatever I want.
It is a limited right. It’s not underpinned by violence. It’s not a right that allows anyone to embark on anarchy or disorder,” Ramaphosa said.
“It is a right that says, 'you must respect the rights of others'. It is not a right for anyone to coerce anybody to do what they want to do and it is not a right that you have to intimidate others and to threaten others with violence…That completely goes against the ethos of our Constitution.”
He said the National Security Council had discussed the planned protest action at a meeting on Wednesday.
“Security forces of our country are going to defend our people. They are going to make sure that intimidation, anarchy and disorder do not prevail. Those who want to protest, by all means protest peacefully, but if you are going to restrict the rights of other people, if you are going to coerce them, if you are going to intimidate them and unleash violence, our security forces are going to defend the people of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
“We will not allow anarchy and disorder to prevail in this country and against the people of South Africa. That will not be allowed. Security forces, stand ready to defend the people of South Africa,” said Ramaphosa. – SAnews.gov.za
