Picture: EFF members picketing during #TotalShutdown protests in Mahikeng

By OBAKENG MAJE

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in North West said it will continue with their protests until midnight. The EFF embarked on a #TotalShutdown protest demanding the end of load shedding.

The EFF provincial secretary, Papiki Babuile said, his party also call for the resignation of the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa. Babuile alleged that the basic service delivery collapsed under Ramaphosa.

The EFF has also picketed outside the Eskom provincial offices in Mahikeng, North West.

“There is no business as usual as many businesses closed. This shows that many people actually support the EFF in its quest that Ramaphosa must step aside.

“The law enforcement agencies have been provoking our members throughout, but we have tried to refrain from engaging in any form of violence with them because this is a peaceful protest,” he said.

Babuile further said, they will not be involved in any anarchy and called on the police to stop violating the rights of those who embarked on peaceful protests.

“The police have been shooting at our members including students at the North West University (NWU) at Mafikeng campus throughout the morning.

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) provincial secretary, Puseletso Molise said SAFTU, supports EFF’s views.

“Currently, the country has more than 60% of youth who are unemployed. We also have 33.4% of women who are experiencing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in their lives across the country.

“But above all, there are people who are retrenched due to load shedding. Many Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) are also shutting down and this renders our government useless because it failed to provide basic services to the people,” said Molise.

Meanwhile, the North West police spokesman, Brig Sabata Mokgwabone: “We can confirm that the police have arrested more than 29 people for public violence during the overnight crime combating operations under the North West Provincial Joint Operational and Intermediate Structure.

“Most of the arrests were made in areas such as Zeerust, Wolmaranstad, Mogwase, and Madikwe. The police have also seized 173 tyres that were placed in strategic areas.”

Mokgwabone said these suspects were apprehended for various offenses including the contravention of Section 3J1A of the National Road Traffic Act Regulations. He said others were arrested for damaging the essential infrastructure and obstructing of free flow of traffic.

“While some of the roads were barricaded with some rubbles and other objects in the early hours of the morning, the police responded rapidly to remove the barricades and allow traffic flows for members of the communities to continue with their normal day-to-day activities.

“Currently, the situation is relatively calm and our police will continue to closely monitor the situation to assert the authority of the state,” said Mokgwabone.

Picture: EFF members embark on #Totalshutdown protests