‘No-one can stop a revolution’

● A defiant Julius Malema has vowed to push ahead with the EFF’s national shutdown tomorrow despite two court interdicts preventing violence and warnings from authorities that anyone breaking the law “will be dealt with”.

“Whether they kill or not kill, we will be on the streets of South Africa,” Malema said. “We don’t care what the security cluster says or the judge says. No-one can stop a revolution.”

But the national joint operational and intelligence structure (Natjoints) comprising the defence force, the state security agency and the police laid down the law on Friday.

“This is our update to the country at large, that there will be no national shutdown. We know of a planned protest. To say there will be a national shutdown is misleading,” said Natjoints chair deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Tebello Mosikili.

“Everything from business to services will be fully functional and operational and accessible. We are not going to allow lawlessness and acts of criminality. Those who are found to be on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with accordingly.”

The DA turned to the courts in both Johannesburg and Cape

Town this week, seeking to have the planned shutdown declared unlawful and asking for interdicts against acts of violence. In Johannesburg, it did not succeed in having the protest declared unlawful but did secure an interdict against unlawful actions, similar to the interdict it won in Cape Town.

The high court in Johannesburg barred the EFF, its members, employees and officials from shutting down retail stores, businesses or trade, instigating the blocking of roads and railway lines and inciting violence.

Malema, whose party is calling for the removal of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to load-shedding, said his supporters would not do anything unlawful. “All types of intimidation have been issued by the state. All types of intimidation have been issued by private security guards.

No private security guard or citizen has the right to shoot at another private citizen. If a private citizen shoots at you, you must be prepared ... respond fire with fire. We must never smile with anyone who wants to shoot us.

“[Police minister] Bheki Cele said there will be choppers flying all over South Africa. There is no chopper that can stop us. We are not scared of choppers. The only thing that a chopper will do is remove the [hat] off Bheki Cele’s head,” Malema said.

From what the Sunday Times could establish, the country will largely remain open for business tomorrow. The two biggest taxi formations, the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) and the National Taxi Council (NTC), made it clear their vehicles will be on the streets ferrying passengers.

“It’s a no-brainer. You are calling for a shutdown and for people to march but how do you expect to them to get to the march? You have essential services people who have to go to work.

“There are people who will need to go to hospitals.

“You cannot expect them to stay at home while you are going about with your madness in an ailing economy like ours,” said NTA spokesperson Theo Malele.

Putco in Johannesburg said its services will be available.

Prasa confirmed trains will be running. The Airports Company of South Africa (Acsa) said its facilities will operate.

“All entities in the Acsa travel value chain are in the process of preparing respective contingency plans to ensure adequate resourcing across our airports; we will remain on high alert and normal operations will continue.

“Law enforcement agencies within our airports and airport precinct will intensify operations and visibility. But due to the sensitivity of the operations, I am unable to divulge specific plans,” said Acsa spokesperson Gopolang Peme.

Public Servants’ Association spokesperson Reuben Maleka said the union was not involved in the protest.

“Our members who could be EFF members have the right to attend the march [but] as an organisation we are not part of the shutdown.

“It is upon every employer to ensure the health and safety of its employees. We take it that the government will also ensure that our members who have to report for duty, whether they are police or nurses, will not suffer any intimidation or injury.

“The leader of the EFF committed to no violence against workers who report for duty. We therefore are not panicking,” Maleka said.

Banks are monitoring the situation. Absa said in a statement: “As of 17 March, the intention is for customer services to continue on 20 March. However, we are monitoring developments and will advise of any specific arrangements based on our assessment of the situation closer to the time and on the day.”

FNB spokesperson Lee-Anne van Zyl said: “Should it become necessary to temporarily halt services in certain locations, customers can continue to access most of our services via the FNB app and online banking. We will continue to evaluate our contingency plans as necessary.”

Nedbank said it would be business as usual on Monday. “As always, the safety of our staff remains a priority and where staff are required to travel to work for business we have set out operational guidelines for their safety,” said spokesperson Refilwe Boikanyo.

The business community has rejected the protest as a move unsuitable for the prevailing economic conditions.

“South Africa needs united action to overcome its economic and social challenges, not threats of violence and intimidation in support of narrow political gains,” Business Unity SA said.

The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) echoed this.

“A shutdown can never be a legitimate reason to handle political differences as this is a clear abuse of the political process in which South Africa has demonstrated that conducting free and fair elections is in fact one of our strengths. Disputes relating to who should or should not be the president should be resolved via the ballot box and not through shutdowns,” said Sacci CEO Alan Mokoki.

Basic education department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said all schools will be closed because the day falls within a holiday in the school calendar. Mhlanga said if a principal and a school governing body feel that schooling can take place, they can proceed.

While the EFF has declined to divulge details of the planned action, with Malema calling on his supporters to “occupy a street” and with the protests starting “at 12am”, it is expected but not confirmed that there will be a march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Local community police forums across the country are preparing to work with private security companies and the police to protect their areas. Below are some of the areas that could be affected:

— In Johannesburg, a march is expected to happen from Marina Road to Beyers Naudé Drive, past the Honeydew police station, left down Boundary Road and then possibly to the CBD. In Ruimsig, a march is expected to take place from Hendrik Potgieter Road to Peacock informal settlement.

— In Primrose, Germiston, Main Reef Road is perceived as a high-risk area.

— In KwaZulu-Natal, the department of community safety & liaison will add 1,400 volunteers in all districts to help monitor the situation. The EFF has said the main focus of its protest will be on Durban and Richards Bay, with Malema also mentioning the July riots hotspot of Phoenix. No details were provided.

— In Cape Town, law enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason was quoted as saying officers had collected hundreds of tyres, ostensibly to use on the day of the shutdown, in areas including Old Strandfontein Road, Baden Powell Drive, Viking Way in Epping and Parkwood in Grassy Park.