Intelligence monitoring social media ahead of national shutdown
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) says its operatives are monitoring the use of social media ahead of the EFF's national shutdown on Monday.
Natjoints consists of the South African National Defence Force, the State Security Agency (SSA) and the Police.
The EFF is expected to take to the streets demanding the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and an end to load shedding, amongst other demands.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Friday, Natjoints chairperson Deputy National Police Commissioner, Tebello Mosikili, says the intelligence services are hard at work to gather information on possible instigators.
"The NATJOINTS is also closely monitoring the situation and the social media mobilisation that is currently unfolding. Incitement of violence through any platforms including social media.
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"As well as the sharing of inflammatory messages, are criminal offences according to the Cyber Crimes Act, where social media users can actually be charged for intimidation and incitement to commit violence.
"Therefore, members of the public are cautioned against spreading messages that seek to mobilise communities to shutdown roads, intimidate and incite violence, as well as messages encouraging damage to economic sites"
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has also been mobilised to be on stand-by to assist the police on Monday.
