By: Natasha Archary
The EFF in Gauteng is threatening more protests and pickets if its arrested members are not released.
This after hundreds of people were arrested on Monday’s National Shutdown during what the party calls “peaceful protest action.”
A total of 550 protesters were arrested for public violence, intimidation, damage to critical infrastructure, theft and attempted looting.
Of this 149 arrests were made in Gauteng alone.
While the party hasn’t confirmed how many EFF members were arrested, the red berets slammed SAPS’ handling of the protests and demand the immediate release of those arrested.
The party says they will stage pickets outside all the courts that its members are set to make appearances at on Wednesday, 22 March.
Any form of peaceful demonstration is a constitutional right, and members of EFF cannot not be arrested for exercising this right. Law enforcement agencies must uphold the law and protect the rights of citizens. #EFFNationalshutdown pic.twitter.com/nHLWJvyEJ7
— Rebecca Mamaila Mohlala (@MathibeRebecca) March 22, 2023
“The EFF in Gauteng condemns the callous behaviour of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Correctional Services in refusing to release the arrested protesters from Monday’s demonstrations.
After much deployment of police for the protests, it is now apparent that they were sent to provoke and arrest innocent demonstrators in order to justify the wasteful expenditure of R166 million in deploying the army and reserve policy.
The continued arrest of peaceful demonstrators and their denial of the opportunity to apply for police bail lays bare the way in which the state is ready to infringe the fundamental right to freedom of expression, especially on views that criticise and expose the state and corrupt politicians.”
The EFF demands the release of it arrested members
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