All South African ports of entry will be open on Monday and the government is ready to deal swiftly with any threats or disruptions arising from the call for a national shutdown, the Ministers of the Justice, Crime Prevention, and Security Cluster (JCPSC) have warned.
The JCPSC has assured the public that Monday “will be a normal business day” despite the EFF’s call to bring the country to a standstill in a national shutdown to protest against loadshedding and to call for the removal of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The cluster includes Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, Minister in the Presidency Responsible for State Security, Khumbudzo Ntshaveni, and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola,
“The Ministers of the JCPS Cluster have noted the planned protest action called by some groupings for Monday. We have also noted the mobilisation undertaken in various communication platforms for members of the public to join the protest action. Government lauds residents and businesses who refuse to be intimidated or bullied and assures them that everyone in South Africa and their property will be protected,” the JCPSC said in a statement.
“We want to assure everyone in the country that 20 March will be a normal business day. We want to reiterate to our international community that, contrary to the pronouncements by those advocating for any disruption, all ports of entry – land, sea, and air – will be operational,” the ministers said.
The JCPS said measures were in place and police would be “out in their numbers” to ensure “everyone who wants to go to work, travel for leisure and conduct business on this day does so in a safe and secure environment”.
“Anyone who intimidates, stops anyone from going to work, barricades the roads and highways and uses any form of violence to try and stop our people from going on with their lives will face the full might of the law,” the JCPSC said.
The ministers warned that it was a criminal offence to spread messages of fear, intimidation or inflammatory statements that could incite violence.
“We are aware of many social media accounts claiming that hundreds and thousands of followers are being mobilised to support the protest,” the JCPSC said.
However, it said most communities and sectors, including the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), National Taxi Association, the Road Freight Association, and organised structures within communities, had rejected the call, and government services would also be available as usual.
“We are aware that social media platforms are being used to give credence to the protest and want to encourage our people not to believe everything they read on social media. We will be closely monitoring the situation throughout the country and will act swiftly and decisively against any threats or disruptions,” the JCPSC said.
“There will be high police visibility. Our law enforcement agencies through the NatJoints will ensure multidisciplinary deployments and the necessary contingency plans are already in place.
“We want to reiterate that Monday will be a normal working day for all South Africans, and no amount of threats will disrupt the norm. We assure every citizen that they must and should go on with their business as usual without any fear... The Security Cluster is fully prepared and will deal with any disruption,” the JCPSC said.
It added that people who participated in any protest action must do so in a peaceful manner.
“No form of violence and criminality will be tolerated. The Constitution guarantees the right to protest peacefully and within the ambit of the law and protesters must not infringe on the rights of others,” the JCPSC said.
SANTACO issued a circular to its members across the country stating that it had met with the EFF and that Monday would be a “normal operating day for the taxi industry” as it would not participate in the shutdown.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) said on Friday that it would update the nation on its safety and security measures on Friday evening, ahead of the protest.
