South Africa braces for ‘nationwide shutdown’ as military deployed ahead of protest

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South Africa is braced for a “national shutdown” on Monday as an opposition party holds protests demanding the resignation of the president, sparking fears of violence. open image in gallery Leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema, has called for an occupation of the streets Mr Malema declared ahead of the protests that “no one can stop a revolution” as he called on his supporters to occupy the streets in outrage at alleged corruption and poor public services, urging activists to remain peaceful while also advising them to “defend themselves from anyone who provokes them with violence”. In a statement, President Ramaphosa wrote: “In fulfilment of its constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of all people, government will always have measures in place to ensure that everyone who wants to go to work, travel for leisure and conduct business can do so in a safe and secure environment.” open image in gallery President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has said business will run as normal on Monday He added: “We should be clear that the right to protest does not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate or threaten anyone else. open image in gallery Former South African president Jacob Zuma at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, in January last year Tebello Mosikili, the country’s deputy national police commissioner and chair of a joint security forces co-ordination committee, had promised last week that “there will be no national shutdown… we learnt our lesson in 2021.” He said: “Everything from businesses to services will be fully functional.