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| Image: John Steenhuisen/ Ziyaad Douglas |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally filed documents in the North Gauteng High Court opposing the EFF's planned nationwide shutdown on Monday. DA leader John Steenhuisen detailed the party's response to different threats on social media during a news conference.
Steenhuisen said: "[They] will not sit back and allow the EFF to threaten businesses, livelihoods, and lives. There is mounting evidence on social media and in public statements by EFF leaders, members, and supporters that they are prepared to break the law in pursuit of their own political agenda."
He added: "It makes no sense to instigate a nationwide shutdown to protest load-shedding. Shutting the economy down for a day will do nothing to solve this problem that has been decades in the making. On the contrary, it will only push South Africa deeper into chaos and poverty."
Steenhuisen believes that what the EFF is doing is unconstitutional because it is taking away the rights of other citizens for its demand to be heard.
The threats made by Julius Malema reveal that he does not respect other people's rights. The party stated it is not going to apply for any municipal rights to carry out their agender.
In a video making rounds on Twitter. The EFF has said the following: “We are saying to you close down all your businesses to avoid the looting. Close down all your shops to avoid the looting. Close down all your factories to avoid the lootings. Close down everything — nothing will be operating on that day, we are avoiding the looting. So we are saying to you, come and join the march, my brother. Come and join the march, my sister.”
It is fair to have a peaceful protest but one that threatens the livelihoods of others. It appears that the party is not aware of the peril this promoted shutdown will have on the already existing socioeconomic issues. They are threatening people which in Steenhuisen's view is:
“This is all the more objectionable at a time when people are suffering from multiple assaults to their lives and livelihoods due to the disastrous lockdowns, ongoing high-stage load-shedding and runaway crime.”
To this matter, the DA leader is pledging to write to the defence minister to ensure that the SANDF is ready to intercept and prevent this unconstitutional shutdown.
