Cape Town, 20 March 2023: Hundreds of EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) supporters marched to the country’s parliament in Cape Town as part of the party’s National Shutdown which started at midnight around the country. The EFF marched with members of the PAC (Pan Africanist Congress), unions affiliated to SAFTU (South African Federation of Trade Unions) and other supporting organisations.

Western Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, visiting the starting point of the march claimed about 10 00 used car tyres were collected and confiscated by the police in the province. The tyres are normally set alight in the middle of roads in order to block exits and entrances to unrest areas.

The national shutdown demands included a call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign over the Phala Phala scandal as well as calls to restructure the state owned power utility Eskom, in order to end the staged electricity blackouts which has plagued the country for years.

Owen Khathazile, secretary of labour for the PAC, addressing the crowd outside parliament said the protest had sent a strong message to the nation that they should not vote for the ruling African National Congress in the national elections in 2024.

Veronica Mente, national chairperson of the EFF said the shutdown was beyond as a success as suddenly load shedding had been suspended and the state was able to show that it can mobilised law enforcement agencies to protect communities.

Riot police escorted the protestors to parliament and monitored the gathering. The crowd then dispersed peacefully and were encouraged to continue protesting in their communities.