Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is happy that the majority of South Africans did not heed the call by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to shut down the country on Monday.
Speaking on Tuesday during Human Rights Day celebrations in De Aar, Northern Cape, Ramaphosa criticised the EFF, saying the party sought to “diminish” the country’s “democracy”.
“It is quite an important day for all of us because it is a day on which we celebrate the great progress we have made as a people and as a nation in building a democracy that is founded on equal human rights for all…
“Even though others would want to diminish this democracy, even though others would want to abuse the rights of others, intimidate them, compel them to participate in protests…
“I am happy that the majority of South Africans did not heed the call but they exercised their right as South Africans,” said Ramaphosa.
Consolidating and Sustaining a Human Rights Culture into the Future #HumanRightsDay https://t.co/4FJakzQi33
— Cyril Ramaphosa ?? (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 21, 2023
The EFF held a nationwide protest under tight security on Monday in a bid to force out Ramaphosa over his handling of the country’s sickly economy and crippling energy crisis.
But turnout was low and calls for strikes went unheeded as the government mobilised thousands of police, backed by troops, to stifle any unrest.
The EFF had called for a national shutdown, sparking fears of a repeat of bloody clashes and looting just under two years ago.
Under close escort and with a police helicopter overhead, several thousand protesters marched in Pretoria to Ramaphosa’s official residence, passing the seat of government, the Union Buildings.
“Our demands are simple, we want Ramaphosa to leave this house, to leave this house with immediate effect,” EFF’s firebrand leader Julius Malema told protesters.
“We are here to demand the end of load shedding, to demand Ramaphosa to step down and if he doesn’t… we will force him to step down,” he said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
Additional information by AFP
