More than 550 suspects were arrested during the EFF led National Shutdown march on Monday. The EFF organised the protest demanding among others, that President Cyril Ramaphosa resigns as Head of State, they also demanded the end to energy crisis and youth unemployment.

CHARGES

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said protesters who were arrested face charges ranging from public violence, intimidation, and damage to public infrastructure. "The Natjoints is therefore pleased to report that it has delivered on its promise to the residents of this country, in ensuring that the measures that are in place enabled businesses and services to operate with minimum incidents of criminality reported throughout the country,".

"The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) is satisfied with the manner in which the integrated law enforcement deployments have exercised their authority in ensuring law and order in the country thus far," Mathe said.

 GAUTENG RECORDED HIGHEST NUMBER OF ARRESTS

 Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that Gauteng recorded the highest number of arrests with 149, followed by the Northern Cape with 95 arrests, the Eastern Cape also saw 80 protestors arrested, followed by the Free State with 64 arrests. The number of tyres that were confiscated throughout the country remains at 24 300. The police say the tyres were strategically placed for acts of criminality.

 A BIG FLOP?

 African National Congress Secretary General Fikile Mbalula said that EFF leader Julius Malema wanted to coerce society into rising against the ANC government through violent means. Mbalula said the turnout of the shutdown was not what Malema had anticipated and that South Africans did not come to the party. Mbalula said the shutdown was a total flop. He said  law enforcement had learned a hard lesson during the 2021  July unrest where various provinces embarked on looting sprees claiming it was for the freedom of former president Jacob Zuma. "All they are trying to do now is the last kick of a dying horse, sprinkles of sporadic actions which were thoroughly suppressed by the police overnight. Our law enforcement did very well. Big up to Bheki Cele and the team," Mbalula said.