South African opposition leader Malema declares national shutdown

The Economic Freedom Fighters principal Julius Malema has reiterated his party’s plans to lead nationwide demonstrations to impose pressure on the Cyril Ramaphosa government which he accuses with gross corruption and neglect of South African taxpayers.

Malema says the EFF’s main reason to take the struggle to the streets is to call on president Cyril Ramaphosa to pen down his resignation.

The Party leader, Malema says the president has failed to properly address Eskom load shedding crisis, historic unemployment crisis, and the country’s shrinking economic woes.

The Democratic Alliance rushed to High Court in Pretoria to apply for an urgent interdict so that the EFF’s march occurs within the confines of the law.

Other rights groups said they would approach the police for reinforcement should the EFF demonstration turn violent.

Malema has however assured South Africans that violence is not part of his red berets movement plan.

“It is the responsibility of law enforcement to always maintain peace and order in society. Where we think there will be marches and pickets of the EFF, there will be marshals, there will be security to make sure that agent provocateurs are isolated and are hand delivered by the EFF to authorities,” Malema said. “A shut down is not a 21st birthday party where you’re going to celebrate, and that’s it. It’s a launching of a campaign where the president must be put under pressure to step down,” he added.