Cape Town – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has cautioned business owners to close their businesses to avoid the risk of looting during the planned national shutdown on March 20.
Earlier this year, the EFF announced its planned national shutdown to protest the ongoing load shedding and call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down.
Party leader, Julius Malema said the protest will bring the country’s economy to a standstill, adding that the event would make the Zuma Must Fall protest look like “Micky Mouse”.
With only days left to the national shutdown, party members with loud speakers are reportedly warning business owners in townships to close their businesses for the day, reports News24.
“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.
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“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 head saying, according to the report.
The report said the EFF has been going door to door, handing pamphlets and mobilising on the back of bakkies across the country to gather people for the national shutdown.
South Africa Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) members will be joining the protest.
Saftu general-secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said that all workers would be protected, including those outside the federation.
“We have submitted a Section 77 notice this morning [Thursday] to protect all workers in and outside the federation.
“This means any worker, even if they are not [a] member of any union, including the federation itself, will be protected from victimisation by employers when they participate in that national shutdown,” Vavi said.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
