Determined to bring South Africa to a complete standstill, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) National Shutdown proved to be a fruitless endeavour in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.
According to Newcastle’s law enforcement, crime fighting organisations, security companies, community groups and volunteers, the Red Berets’ efforts were quickly dealt with.
Reflecting on the day, Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team’s Imran Ghafoor explained that Newcastle was kept safe through the fact that the stakeholders simply outnumbered the participants of the mass action. Also, the various stakeholders had laid out meticulous plans prior to the day.
“In Newcastle, there were no arrests made, as there was no property damage and no violent protests. They (protestors) did attempt, but their attempts went in vain,” said Ghafoor, highlighting that the participating stakeholders had identified hotspots prior to the National Shutdown. This saw any attempts at creating chaos squashed before they could materialise.
Additionally, Ghafoor said that there was an incident at KwaMatukuza, where protestors attempted to close the roads off with burning tyres.
But participating stakeholders, alongside the SAPS, quelled the attempted uprising. “We managed to extinguish the fires,” said Ghafoor, adding that the crowds were then dispersed.
However, a second incident took place that saw police officers showcase the full might of the law when a road blockade at Steildrift Road in Osizweni was set up.
At this incident, police sources explained that the road was barricaded with large stones and burning tyres by approximately 200 people, all of whom were allegedly violent.
With the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit responding to the scene at Steildrift Road to ensure the situation did not escalate, an official police source stated, “POP used minimum force to contain the situation and 20 people were arrested for Public Violence and Contravention of NRTA of 1996.”
Following the failed National Shutdown attempts throughout the area, local law enforcement sent a strong message to those considering showing disregard for the law in Newcastle.
“People have the right to protest peacefully, according to the South African Constitution. But they cannot block roads, burn tyres and be violent,” declared Osizweni SAPS Spokesperson Captain Sipho Nkosi.
With Newcastillians able to enjoy the long weekend without fear of civil unrest, Ghafoor said, “Once again Newcastle showed that if we are united, then nothing can go wrong.”
He went on to further say that a special thanks go out to the SAPS, Traffic Officers, the Newcastle CPF, the Community Crime Prevention Association (CCPA), local security companies and all other volunteers and organisations who rose up to the occasion to protect Newcastle and its residents.
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