What you need to know about the National Shutdown
Breakfast with Martin Bester spoke to SAPS National Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe about Monday’s National Shutdown.
Jacaranda FM News Cast Editor, Gerda de Sousa, spoke to Mathe regarding the current status of the National Shutdown:
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe spoke to us from Johannesburg, informing De Sousa that she is “currently wearing two hats” to assure our safety.
Furthermore, the brigadier informed us that there had been around 82 arrests made since 7am on Monday.
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The arrests were due to unlawful action by EFF protesters, such as looting and destruction of property.
On the safety of South Africans
Mathe assured De Sousa that every area is treated as a hotspot and the police force is doing all they can to keep affected areas as well as potentially affected areas safe.
“We assure South Africans that we are working on the ground to assure the safety of all South Africans,” she said.
Police have confiscated more than 24,000 tyres that have been placed on the roads.
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“These tyres were placed to disrupt and prohibit movement on the roads.”
Can South Africans travel?
After being asked whether South Africans could use the roads and travel to their different destinations, the brigadier confirmed, “absolutely”.
“Protesting is a constitutional right, but so is freedom of movement,” she said.
The brigadier assured De Sousa that the South African Police Service is not allowing any criminal activity.
“We have maximised police deployment and resources. The main focus is to secure the safety of South Africans.”
It is still important to remain safe as protest action has started.
Now or Never !#NationalShutdown pic.twitter.com/g9C34Sol32
— EFF Gauteng (@EFFGautengProv) March 19, 2023
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