With the planned national shutdown by the EFF on Monday, court cases are set to be heard virtually on the day of the protest. This is a measure to avoid security breaches of prisoners that must be transported from their prisons to various courts around the cpuntry.
DIRECTIVE
The office of the Gauteng Deputy Judge President Roland Sutherland issued a notice that directs judges to make the relevant arrangements for matters scheduled to be heard on Monday and for the accused to take note of the links for the virtual hearings. This comes after the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) earlier assured South Africans that plans are in place to curb any potential lawlessness linked to the protest. Meanwhile, the Acting Judge President of the Western Cape High Court has postponed all criminal matters set down for 20 March 2023, until Wednesday 22 March 2023. "These won't require the presence of the accused. Civil matters set down for 20 March 2023 may proceed virtually at the discretion of the presiding judge," said Judge President Patricia Goliath. The Pietermaritzburg High Court is set to be closed on 20 March 2023 and all matters previously set down for 20 March 2023 being heard on 22 March 2023.
INTERDICTING SHUTDOWN
The Democratic Alliance (DA) headed to the Joburg High Court on Friday in an attempt to interdict the national shutdown. According to DA party leader John Steenhuisen, the party wants the shutdown declared unlawful and the EFF interdicted from closing schools, businesses and roads. "We want the red EFF barred from organising, participating in, or inciting any unlawful protest action and from inciting violence. Further, we want the national shutdown interdicted to the extent that it it's not protected under notice given under the Regulation of Gatherings Act," said Steenhuisen. Steenhuisen said he was aware of the rights of people to protest. "However, I also emphasise there is no right to protest violently, shut down the functioning of society or coerce others to participate in a protest. The threats of these forms of unlawful conduct are exacerbated in a society like ours, where certain interests take advantage of the high levels of poverty, inequality, lack of service delivery and social tensions to advance their causes,"said Steenhuisen.
JULIUS MALEMA DEFENDS EFF AGAINST BACKLASH
Julius Malema said talks of violent threats were untrue, instead they have been nice to all the stakeholders that will possibly be affected because ?that is in the nature and character of the EFF'. He said they have been aware that the DA has hired disruptors that will be planted among the protesters of the EFF so that they can undermine its integrity and demands that Ramaphosa should resign. "The DA has taken a decision to defend Ramaphosa and is masquerading as protecting businesses and the economy of South Africa. The DA in its papers is not interrupting the protest, but threats of violence which haven't occurred. How do you stop a non-existing thing," he asked. Malema said they've met with various stakeholders that will be affected by the strike as a form of courtesy and to avoid tensions.
