Natjoints: EFF ‘shutdown’ to be closely monitored
Anyone found spreading messages fueling unlawful behaviour over social media during Monday's planned national protests will be dealt with.
That is the assurance by SAPS Deputy National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili during a national address on Friday.
The EFF, led by Julius Malema, has planned the mobilisation to voice against the high cost of living and for the president to step down.
Mosikili says not only will security clusters be monitoring ground activity but they'll also be tracking activities on social media platforms.
"Incitement of violence through any platform including social media as well as the sharing of of inflammatory messages are criminal offences according to the Cybercrimes Act. Social media users can actually be charged for intimidating and incitement to commit violence. Therefore, members of the public are cautioned against spreading messages that seek to mobilise communities to shut down roads, and messages encouraging damaging economic sites," says Mosikili.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) says it will not be caught with its pants down this time around when the mass protest takes place.
It has admitted it was caught sleeping during the July unrest of 2021.
Mosikili says this time around they've made use of better planning.
"What will be different this time is that more focus for planning and intensive planning. It is not that we did not plan in 2021. But we have planned better, so we learnt our lesson in 2021. We have ticked the boxes and have planned accordingly to respond to those elements of surprise that might arise," she added.
Mosikili says they are not aware of a shutdown, but rather a planned protest.
"There will be no shutdown. We know of a planned protest. To say there will be a national shutdown, is rather misleading."
