PHUTI MOSOMANE
According to protesters, the EFF’s National Shutdown demonstrated that the government has the ability to put an end to load shedding and other challenges facing South Africa, if it chooses to do so.
PHOTOS| EDDIE MTSWENI
Here’s what they had to say:
MANGALISO NGWENYA|
Activist and union member, Mangaliso Ngwenya, from CEPPWAWU in the North West province, joined the national shutdown to ensure that the government get the message loud and clear.
“Firstly, I must say that we need to increase pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign because just because of this protest, we were told that loadshedding was suspended over the weekend and today,” he said.
According to Ngwenya, the government should take on unemployed graduates as a means to address the alarming rates of youth unemployment.
CHRISTOPHER MASHEGO|
A member of the African People’s Convention (APC), Christopher Mashego, who is based in Winterveldt in Pretoria, praised the protesters for being disciplined throughout the march.
“We came here to make a point that as black African organisations we can organize a protest that is peaceful, and no violence. The much talk about violence was a distraction on the part of government,” Mashego said.
SAREL LEPELESANE|
EFF member Sarel Lepelesane, who hails from Randfontein, said the march was a success because calling for the removal of a sitting president [Cyril Ramaphosa] will not be easy.
“We are starting a revolution with the aim of eventually removing President Cyril Ramaphosa. This is not the last march. We will protest until he resigns as South African President. We know it is not going to be easy.”
NONTEMBKO LUZIPHO
SAFTU deputy secretary-general, Nontembeko Luzipo, told Inside Politics that the trade union federation joined the protest to highlight the importance of the crisis of unemployment and to demand the end of privatization of State-owned Enterprises.
“We delivered a clear message to the government. It’s just the beginning. Only a negligent President will ignore the issues raised by the protesters … Eskom has been defunded in order to sell it. But I want to say that this protest was a success because majority of taxis were empty and stationed at taxi ranks. Shops were closed and people responded by staying at home,” she said.
INSIDE POLITICS
