SOUTH AFRICA’S left wing opposition has launched a series of strikes today (March 20) in protest at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s handling of the economy and the country’s crippling energy crisis.
Thousands of protestors gathered in the capital city of Pretoria for a march on the Union Buildings, the government’s headquarters, with police and armed soldiers keeping a close watch on the protests.
Thousands more people gathered in other parts of the country according to footage from regional news outlets.
The country’s third-largest party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), called for a “national shutdown” of walkouts and protests, sparking fears that the country may witness a repeat of the violence that occurred two years ago during similar protests.
Violence
Today’s protests sparked memories of the heaviest violence which occurred in the country since the end of apartheid and the introduction of democracy in 1994.
Protests against the imprisonment of ex-president Jacob Zuma erupted into widespread violence and looting, resulting in the deaths of at least 350 people.
Ramaphosa issued orders for law enforcement to prevent a recurrence of the unrest but cautioned against the use of coercion.
Writing in his weekly newsletter he said that people should have the freedom to demonstrate, but “no-one should be forced, threatened or intimidated into joining that protest” .
Radical
The EFF warned its supporters they “must be militant and radical” in their actions, but should still maintain order. It also claimed the government is using the protests to allow the military to engage in acts of excessive force.
The party is demanding that Ramaphosa resign due to his mismanagement of the economy, persistent electricity shortages, and high unemployment. However the country’s 70-year-old president responded by saying that the EFF is taking advantage of the country’s problems to gain support in in the upcoming elections.
Carl Niehaus, a former official of the ruling ANC who joined the mainly EFF supporters for the rally told AFP: “Clearly this government is failing. The damage that the Ramaphosa government is causing is so terrible that we cannot tolerate it any longer. They must go now” he said.
Trade unionist Trevor Shaku, who was among the protesters calling on the ANC government to go, agreed.
“The decision to demand the resignation of Ramaphosa must be expanded to include the entire African National Congress in Congress in government because clearly it has mismanaged this country,” he said.
Security
Nearly 3,500 troops were on standby to aid police, according to the authorities, who said they were on high alert to maintain security.
Police Minister Bheki Cele told reporters in Johannesburg: “We hope that those that will be marching, as long as they will be doing so peacefully, we have no reason to interfere with them.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, petitioned a Johannesburg court on Saturday to prevent the EFF from shutting down schools, retail stores, businesses, trade, and public roads and inciting violence during their protest.
The EFF claimed that the pressure of the strike call prevented scheduled power cuts across the country on Sunday and for the majority of Monday, the first time this had happened since January 2.
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Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, and Current South African President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, ought to be the poster children for the total folly of the Left-Wing belief that wise; truthful and just political leadership, to correct historical skin-colour discrimination, can be easily achieved by having “diverse” and “inclusive,” and African-heritage Elected Parliamentary Leadership.
President Ramaphosa ought to be the global example of a native South African man, can morph from leader of South Africa’s Mine Workers Union in the 1970s; to having mining share; being a board member for the mining family, and having been given great wealth, and today, the chief persecutor of South Africa’s miners: and South Africa’s majority African-heritage men; women and youth.
Mr Ramaphosas is the chief persecutor of miners in South Africa, and Mr Ramaphosa is the darling of South Africa’s mining and wealthy elite.
Who would believe, in the 1970s, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa lead South Africa’s African-majority Striking Miners.
The treachery displayed by Mr Ramaphosa, reminds the world that African people, just because they have endured skin-colour oppression: discrimination and injustice, will automatically be immune from displaying skin-colour discrimination, and injustice against their African-heritage peers.
In stark contrast, former President Jacob Zuma, who genuinely placed the welfare of South Africa’s African majority first, is persecuted through the Courts by his former ANC colleagues and South Africa’s wealthy elite; who place the interest of western corporate profits, above giving justice to South Africa’s African native majority.
Apartheid is dead in South Africa.
However, make no mistake, Native African, South Africans are in Parliamentary and Political Office, but the real power in South African is firmly in the hands of South Africa’s Caucasian elite: who are actively supported by Western Caucasian corporate, and Banking institutions.