Johannesburg – Police have been out in numbers dispersing protestors in Braamfontein, where arrests have been made.
Police Minister General Bheki Cele said early morning Monday suspects were arrested and thousands of used tyres recovered before they could be set alight.
Law enforcement officers – through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) – have in the last 12 hours arrested 87 protestors across the country for public violence related offences.
The protests on the eve the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) “national shutdown” planned for Monday, (20 March 202), involved large crowds gathered in the streets, where tyres were set alight.
Other organisations including the African Transformation Movement and South African Federation of Trade Unions have announced they will be joining the EFF protests to demand the end of load-shedding, the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, joblessness, and other ills affecting poor people.
Other organisations such as the South African National Taxi Council have stated that they will not be taking part in the planned national shutdown.
The Democratic Alliance has opted to seek court interdicts to stop the protests.
On Sunday, President Ramaphosa – the Commander-in-Chief of the South African National Defence Force – authorised the deployment of more than 3 000 soldiers to assist the SA Police Service (SAPS) to keep the peace and protect persons and property.
The EFF said it rejects the deployment of the soldiers.
The SAPS has assured the public and those who want to go to work or operate their businesses can go ahead and do so.
For now, all eyes are on urban areas.
