There will be increased police deployment in districts across the province to monitor the national shutdown planned by the EFF for Monday.
The KZN Crime, Justice and Security Cluster (JCPS), which held a briefing on Friday morning, said law enforcement is on high alert ahead of the mass protest to demand, among others, the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa and to voice frustration with the current electricity crisis.
“As of Friday, all our teams and deployments from all districts will be activated and have been placed on high alert.
“We have also activated the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJoints).
“This structure comprises all government departments, including the SAPS and SANDF. Equally, our intelligence operatives have been activated in all districts for early warning systems and for proactive interventions,” said KZN chairperson of the justice, crime prevention and security cluster, Sipho Hlomuka.
“Through the ProvJoints, we will monitor developments every minute and hour of the day until the protesters disengage.”
He reiterated that Monday would be a normal working day in the province and assured the public, ‘especially those who will be going to work, that their rights to work and commute will be protected’.
“While we respect the constitutional right of the protesters to protest, such must be done peacefully and without tampering with the rights of others who will not be part of the planned protest action,” said Hlomuka.
He said all public transport would operate as normal on the day.
“We are also encouraged by the fact the body representing the taxi industry, which is the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), has distanced itself from participating in the protests. This means public transport will be operating as normal.
“Equally, the bus industry will be operating as per usual, trains will be working, and the freight industry has also engaged their members to not participate or be used in the planned protests,” he said.
Monday is a special school holiday owing to the Human Rights Day public holiday on Tuesday.
“We, therefore, appeal to all parents to make sure their children do not participate in the planned protests,” said Hlomuka.
