Heavily armed police and members of the SA National Defence Force were stationed at national key points, including the Union Buildings, Eskom power stations, airports and the City Hall in Cape Town yesterday.
Two police nyalas were seen parked outside the Union Buildings with Gauteng traffic police patrolling the area.
Similar measures were taken at several key points around the country as preparations got under way ahead of the EFF’s planned mass protest on Monday.
Parliament yesterday confirmed that 3,474 members of SANDF had been deployed for a month – from March 17 to April 17.
National police commissioner Gen Fanie Masemola, accompanied by provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela, visited OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park on the East Rand on Sunday and assured passengers of their safety during the protest which will be joined by members of the South African Federation of Trade Unions and UDM.
An SANDF truck was seen stationed at the arrivals terminal of the OR Tambo while soldiers and a high contingent of police were milling around the precinct.
“We are quite confident that there are sufficient integrated forces consisting of various disciplines, including your metro police, SAPS and SANDF. We are quite sure that there is a sufficient operation to ensure that peace will prevail,” Masemola said.
The EFF is calling for the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa, an end to rolling blackouts, unemployment and crime, among other demands.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said that lawlessness and anarchy would not be tolerated.
He said individuals had been going to various parts of the country instructing businesses to remain closed “under the guise of the so called shutdown”.
“The state has a responsibility to protect critical infrastructure... to ensure that citizens can go on about their day tomorrow in a normal way and when doing so that they are safe and not subjected to any anarchy or any form of violence.
“The president has stated that as much as the right to protest is guaranteed and protected under our constitution, equally that right is not absolute and is not a ticket to any form of anarchy or violence or disrupting and interrupting other people’s rights to go on with their lives.
“The security presence is part of a broader exercise of ensuring that critical infrastructure as well as key governance institutions are protected in the face of threats that have continuously been made in the build up to tomorrow,” Magwenya said.
He said Ramaphosa had seen messages in which airports had been instructed to shut down their operations and businesses threatened with looting and other forms of violence.
“Now in the face of those threats, the security forces are supposed to do what they need to do. That is to ensure that those threats do not materialise. There is a responsibility on the side of the state to ensure the safety of citizens and infrastructure and key points is first and foremost.”
Deputy national police commissioner Lt-Gen Tebello Mosikili said while protesters had constitutional rights, police would ensure that they and other citizens acted within the confines of the law.
“This is a national key point that is policed by the provincial commissioner and all the forces are on the ground. So we expect that business will go on at the airport,” she said.
“We do have an intelligence community on the ground and we get briefed continuously in terms of what is happening so we do not foresee any problem in terms of what will be happening at the airport and all other airports,” added Masemola.
Western Cape provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile, who was accompanied by premier Alan Winde, assured residents that the SANDF had already been deployed to national key points and key infrastructure sites around the province.
Patekile also issued a stern warning to protesters to keep within the law.
“Protest within parameters of the law because if not we’ll act accordingly. As law enforcement we’ll not hesitate to take any action against anyone transgressing the law,” he said.
Patekile said they had adequate boots on the ground and SANDF had been deployed to parliament (City Hall), the legislature and other key points.
Eskom spokesperson Daphne Mokwena said Monday would be a normal day due to the power utility being an essential service.
“All Eskom sites are on high alert and we have put in place the necessary security plans and measures. The law enforcement agencies and SANDF are working closely with Eskom,” Mokwena said.
Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaisons Vusi Shongwe called for the use of force and the restraining on anyone who acts violently.
“We are all aware that the EFF wants to bring the country and the province to a standstill. We are saying respect the law... I know you are not cowards and you are going to protect the province. So do that, protect the province as of now [Sunday],” said Shongwe. – Additional Reporting Mandla Khoza
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.