2023 South African National Shutdown

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2023 South African National Shutdown
Demonstrators at Tsakane, Gauteng
Date20 March 2023
Location
South Africa
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Arrested500 confirmed[6][7]

The 2023 South African National Shutdown was a protest held by the political party Economic Freedom Fighters on 20 March 2023, the day before Human Rights Day.[8][4][9][10][11] The EFF called for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to load-shedding.[3][5] The leader of the EFF, Julius Malema, warned businesses countrywide to close their doors or risk being looted by them.[12][6][13][14][7]

The Mail and Guardian speculated that the shutdown was a "dry-run" for the EFF's campaigning abilities in preparation for the 2024 general elections.[15] Polling by the Social Research Foundation that had been carried right before the shutdown reportedly found that electoral support for the EFF had strongly declined, from 12% in July 2022 to 6% in March 2023.[16][17]

Run up to the shutdown[edit]

In addition to the EFF, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU),[18] the Land Party,[19] and Carl Niehaus's newly formed African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (Areta)[20] participated in support of the shutdown. Minibus taxi companies such as Santaco refused to support the shutdown stating that they did not want the economy to be further damaged.[21]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) sought court interdicts against the shutdown in both the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces. The first interdict barring the shutdown organisers from forcibly closing businesses and roads and the second interdict declaring the shutdown protest unlawful. The court granted the DA's first interdict and denied the second interdict.[22][23]

The South African Police Service stated that there would be no forcibly imposed national shutdown and that they had put measures in place to assure people's safety.[21]

Over 24,000 car tires were confiscated across the country by the authorities in the hours leading up to the shutdown.[24][25] The authorities stated that the tires were placed in strategic locations with the likely intent to create road blocks and set alight on the day of the shutdown.[25] The confiscations were allegedly assisted by EFF activists posting pictures of themselves next to piles of tires on social media, which Malema had asked them not to do.[26]

Impact[edit]

On the day of the shutdown significant protest action and violence was reported in the EFF strong holds of Limpopo and Gauteng provinces where EFF critic Nhlanhla Lux's home was allegedly bombed and national bus operator Putco ceased some of its operations because of reports of intimidation.[27] The situation was described as largely "quiet" in the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, but two roads were reportedly closed by the burning of tires in the Nelson Mandela Bay area in the Eastern Cape.[27] An estimated 150,000 people were reported to have attended the shutdown across the country.[28]

Response and reactions[edit]

Assessment[edit]

Malema described the event as “the most successful shutdown in the history of South Africa”.[29] Despite his earlier statement, Malema blamed the cancellation of chartered busses for protesters as a reason for the lower-than-expected turnout for the shutdown.[30] Malema also alleged that an unnecessarily strong presence by the police and army and an unexpected lack of loadsheading also negatively impacted turnout for the protests.[28]

The media reported that turnout for the shutdown was lower than expected,[31][32][33][29] was in fact very small,[34] and was likely a failure for the EFF,[34][33][29] possibly damaging the party's image in the run-up to the national elections.[33] AfriForum stated that the shutdown was a failure for the EFF.[35] The African National Congress (ANC) thanked South Africans for not responding to the EFF's appeal to join the shutdown,[30] and the DA also described the event as unsuccessful for the EFF and claimed that a court interdict that it had secured against intimidation during the shut down played an important role in reducing its impact.[36]

Incidents of fake news[edit]

Julius Malema claimed that the shutdown helped reduce load shedding.[37][38] However, the national power utility Eskom announced ahead of the protest a reduction of load shedding due to a decrease in demand.[39] In fact, March 20 was designated a special school holiday by the Department of Basic Education in 2022.[40] Former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter previously declared in January 2023 that there would be a load shedding relief by end of March.[41] Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also denied any involvement of EFF with load-shedding suspension.[42]

Social media posts have wrongfully shared footage from a previous protest, specifically the EFF march to Eskom in February 2020, claiming it was from the national shutdown.[43]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "EFF 'NATIONAL SHUTDOWN' UPDATES | 'The fear of the EFF protest has brought the country to a standstill': Gayton McKenzie". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. ^ Mthethwa, Cebelihle. "All hands on deck: Western Cape cops, army, metro police on high alert amid planned national shutdown". News24. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b "DA welcomes High Court interdict of EFF national shutdown violence". Democratic Alliance. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b "National Shutdown | Over 3,000 soldiers deployed | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b Ziady, Hanna (18 January 2023). "South Africa's energy crisis deepens as blackouts hit 12 hours a day". CNN. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  6. ^ a b Ramushwana, Alpha. "EFF national shutdown: what you need to know about what's happening around SA". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b Francke, Robin-Lee (20 March 2023). "Failed Arson Attempts in Cape Town". IOL. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  8. ^ Madia, Tshidi. "D-Day looms for EFF national shutdown". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Everything you need to know about the "national shutdown"". Rekord. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  10. ^ Nkanjeni, Unathi (16 March 2023). "EXPLAINED | Where and who may be affected by the EFF's 'national shutdown'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  11. ^ Patrick, Alex. "The lid will be taken off the pot, says SAFTU ahead of national shutdown". News24. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  12. ^ Nkanjeni, Unathi (16 March 2023). "Can I catch a bus, plane or taxi? Will essential services be running?- What to know about the 'national shutdown'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  13. ^ Gounden, Tamika. "National shutdown: 57 people arrested, confirms Bheki Cele". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  14. ^ "National Shutdown As Its Happening". 20 March 2023.
  15. ^ Tandwa, Lizeka; Harper, Paddy (17 March 2023). "Shutdown is EFF's dry run for the polls". mg.co.za. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  16. ^ Sguazzin, Antony (27 March 2023). "Support for populist EFF has plunged, poll shows". Moneyweb. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  17. ^ "New poll shows EFF, DA losing support, and the ANC gaining – but there's a catch". businesstech. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  18. ^ Rapuleng, Thabang; Mila, Tamsanqa (13 March 2023). "Monday, 20 March 2023 is coming – are you prepared? Tips to survive the national shutdown". Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  19. ^ Stoltz, Eunice (15 March 2023). "Cape Town taxi body backs EFF shutdown call but won't take part". mg.co.za. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  20. ^ Kgosana, Rorisang (20 March 2023). "Carl Niehaus says deployment of law enforcers reminiscent of 1976 Soweto uprising". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  21. ^ a b Solomons, Lisalee. "EFF shutdown: Business as usual for Santaco taxi drivers as cops lay down the law". News24. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  22. ^ Ngcobo, Khanyisile (18 March 2023). "DA's bid to interdict EFF's shutdown dismissed, but party interdicted from inciting violence". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  23. ^ "DA interdict to halt national shutdown fails | eNCA". www.enca.com. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  24. ^ McCain, Nicole (20 March 2023). "EFF shutdown: 87 arrested in 12 hours for public violence, 24 300 tyres confiscated". News24. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  25. ^ a b "87 shutdown protestors arrested, more than 24 000 tyres seized". mg.co.za. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  26. ^ Simpson, Storm (17 March 2023). "National Shutdown: Malema says those posing with tyres are exposing EFF to the enemy". The South African.
  27. ^ a b Makhaye, Chris; Simelane, Bheki; Ludidi, Velani; Tshivhase, Rudzani; Stoddard, Ed; O’Regan, Victoria; Ellis, Estelle; Njilo, Nonkululeko (20 March 2023). "EFF 'SHUTDOWN' SHOWDOWN: Bus pelted with stones, Malema leads march to Union Buildings, with scores arrested in parts of SA". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  28. ^ a b Helfrich, Kim (24 March 2023). "SANDF deployment during national shutdown was "wasteful" - EFF". defenceWeb. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  29. ^ a b c Davis, Rebecca (20 March 2023). "ANALYSIS: Gaslighters-in-Chief: The true meaning of the EFF's big national fizzle". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  30. ^ a b Felix, Jason. "Malema hints EFF shutdown low turn-out due to canceled buses, ANC thanks SA for not joining marches". News24. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  31. ^ Ramushwana, Alpha. "EFF national shutdown: minor disruptions erupt but largely business as usual". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  32. ^ Mokhoali, Veronica. "National Shutdown: EFF supporters decry deployment of security forces". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  33. ^ a b c Wagiet, Rafiq (20 March 2023). "EFF National Shutdown: Did it have the desired effect? No, is the answer..." CapeTalk. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  34. ^ a b Malema’s day of humiliation – South Africa must return to mass democratic politics, Imraan Buccus, Daily Maverick, 20 March 2023
  35. ^ Mashigo, Lehlohonolo (20 March 2023). "EFF's national shutdown was a failure, says AfriForum". IOL.
  36. ^ Mashigo, Lehlohonolo (21 March 2023). "DA's Solly Malatsi says 'national shutdown' was a mountain that gave birth to a mouse". MSN. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  37. ^ @EFFSouthAfrica (23 March 2023). "Malema: After so many months with Loadshedding" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ Ditabo, Malaika. "WATCH | Shutdown was an 'overwhelming success' and helped reduce load shedding, Malema insists". News24. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  39. ^ PesaCheck (30 March 2023). "FALSE: The Economic Freedom Fighters did not stop load shedding". Medium. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  40. ^ "2023 SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS" (PDF). Department of Basic Education. 18 March 2022.
  41. ^ Felix, Jason. "Eskom CEO André de Ruyter hints at load shedding relief by end of March". News24. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  42. ^ Nkanjeni, Unathi. "Electricity minister denies EFF's 'national shutdown' had anything to do with load-shedding suspension". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  43. ^ PesaCheck (20 March 2023). "FALSE: This video is not of Julius Malema's organised 2023 national shutdown in South Africa". Medium. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
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