Nobody has right to threaten, harass or intimidate: Ramaphosa

The EFF is leading countrywide protests on Monday to demand an end to load shedding and for the president to immediately tender his resignation.

The shutdown has led to a massive deployment of police and other law enforcement agencies, including troops from the South African National Defence Force.

Ramaphosa says the state respects the right of anyone to protest.

“We should be clear that the right to protest does not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate or threaten anyone else. It does not give anyone the right to damage property or cause harm to any person.

“One hundred years ago, in May 1923, the first bill of rights in South Africa's history was adopted by the African National Congress. It had no legal standing at the time, but it clearly expressed the desire for the equal rights of all people to be recognised and guaranteed.

“After many decades of bitter struggle, these freedoms were enshrined in the Bill of Rights of our democratic Constitution. Therefore, as we gather tomorrow to celebrate Human Rights Day, we should recall that the rights we enjoy today are the result of great sacrifices. Many people were imprisoned, many were driven into exile and many lost their lives so that our basic human rights are protected and upheld.

Meanwhile, the EFF says it believes the shutdown has been a success.

“One of the major successes of the national shutdown, before it even began, is that it has drastically decreased the stages of load shedding. It is because of the national shutdown that South Africa has moved from stage 4 to Stage 1 over the past four days, and was even suspended yesterday (Sunday).

“It is now time to descend onto the streets and register our unhappiness and frustration against the regime of the day, through massive protests and demonstrations. The shutdown will continue until midnight!” 

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