Fearing a repeat of the widespread disaster the ‘free Jacob Zuma’ riots caused in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), law enforcement agencies are taking no chances in preparing for the rumoured ‘national shutdown’ planned for Monday.
Law enforcement agencies roll out defence plan
On Sunday, police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba issued a statement warning that enforcement agencies were well aware of plans to render the country inoperable in scenes similar to the looting witnessed during July’s shutdown riots.
While no confirmed organisation has been linked to calls for anti-Cyril Ramaphosa protests, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has collected intelligence on social media posts that suggest spirts of unrest could break out in KZN and Gauteng.
“The NatJOINTS is aware of inflammatory messages on various social media platforms advocating for violence. Those behind these messages are warned that inciting violence is a criminal offence. Members of the public are cautioned against spreading such divisive messages,” Themba warned.
From what we understand, at least 5 500 SANDF soldiers will be deployed in hotspot areas in the two above-mentioned provinces, alongside teams of public order police and reservists.
“Law abiding citizens should be at ease knowing that the NatJOINTS is not taking these threats lightly. Security forces are on high alert and ready to maintain stability in the country, and ensure the safety and security of South Africans,”
National shutdown: Areas were riots are expected
The last time we saw anything close to a shutdown, was in July when thousands of rioters targeted business districts in Gauteng and KZN, resulting in billions of rand of infrastructure damages.
Multiple people were killed and hundreds more were arrested. In Phoenix, 36 people died in civilian clashes that mimicked a race war.
According to authorities, however, this planned national shutdown will be nipped in the bud before it breaks out.
From what we understand, law enforcement agencies will pay close attention to activity in the following regions:
Gauteng
- Johannesburg CBD
- Soweto
- Ekurhuleni
- Pretoria
KZN
- Durban CBD
- Estcourt
- Nkandla
- Pietermaritzburg