‘Don’t be stupid… national shutdown will make problems worse’ — Zille

Covid-19

Cape Town – Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chair Helen Zille says the planned national shutdown by the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) on March 20 will make South Africa’s problems worse.

“The national shutdown will make all the problems much WORSE than the shutdown is supposed to be against. When your roof is leaking, you do not make the holes bigger. When your house is collapsing, you do not undermine the foundations further. Don’t be stupid,” said Zille in response to a video asking if people were against the shutdown or the party that initiated it.

Zile also said that the DA’s march to Luthuli House earlier this year was “entirely voluntary” and citizens joined “at their own convenience”.

Last week, the EFF cautioned business owners to close their businesses to avoid the risk of looting on the day.

The shutdown is aimed at protesting the ongoing load shedding and to call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down.

With just a few days left to the day, EFF members with loud speakers reportedly warned business owners in townships to close their businesses on the day, News24. reported.

“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,” the speaker is heard saying, according to the report.

In a video message posted on the party’s social media accounts on Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema called on South Africans to join the shutdown and show that they are “tired” of the ruling government.

“Now is the time to take action. The streets are calling. We all have to occupy all the streets of South Africa. Wherever you are, make your voice be heard. Enough is enough. Unemployment in South Africa cannot be tolerated anymore.

But according to IOL, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC said the event had the potential to derail and further harm the country’s economy which was in a poor state.

“Businesses are trying to survive, and some are trying to resume their business operations following the 2021July unrest and April/May 2022 floods, even with the current state of the economy due to the energy, water and sanitation crisis.

“We believe a crisis cannot be resolved by using the proposed approach of a shutdown. Ours is to preserve the economy and protect the sustainability of businesses,” the report quoted chamber president Prasheen Maharaj as saying.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

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