Cape Town - Ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), unions, political parties and civil society organisations with one gripe or another against the government are readying themselves to protest, heckle and even stop the president from delivering his speech at City Hall at 7pm this evening.
The organisers of these events, planned to take place throughout the day in the heart of Cape Town, spoke about their frustration and anger over the everyday challenges that have led to this action – and why they chose to demonstrate today.
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo reiterated leader Julius Malema’s threat that the EFF would not allow the president to speak at Sona.
The EFF believed Ramaphosa completely failed the country as all spheres of society were in a state of collapse under his “mis-leadership”.
Thambo said: “We won’t allow a president who has broken his oath of office by laundering money at his Phala Phala farm, and is rapidly destroying our economy, to address this country. He has forfeited those rights.”
The SACP in the Western Cape is staging a mass picket, with members from the ANC and Cosatu set to highlight the debilitating crises confronting the South African working class.
The group will depart from Hanover Street in District SIx at 11am today.
Some of these challenges included the rising cost of living; employing decisive action to end load shedding; confronting gender-based violence, kidnapping and extortion; action on the rebuilding of the central rail line and the expansion of rail infrastructure; curbing unemployment, and the reopening of the Chris Hani inquest.
SACP Western Cape provincial secretary Benson Ngqentsu said: “Inability to resolve the challenges our people face may serve as a removal of our government from power.
“The present state of the working class in the Western Cape and the country, if not resolved, will lead to revolt.”
UniteBehind, a civil society coalition made up of more than 20 organisations, is holding a mass load shedding protest that will depart from Hanover Street at 4pm today.
The protest is also against the increased criminality, fires, lack of health care, and loss of income, property and savings resulting from load shedding.
The coalition expected at least 2 500 people to participate from the Movement for Change and Social Justice, Amadoda Qotho, Changing Life, Free Gender, Activist Education and Development Centre, Social Justice Coalition, Reclaim the City, neighbourhood watch associations, Right to Know, African Climate Alliance, and Sonke Gender Justice.
UniteBehind director Zackie Achmat said: “Load shedding affects all South Africans, but especially the poor and working class. The government must not be comfortable in its ineptitude. In collaboration with communities and partners, we will present our demands, in numbers, to the president and Parliament.”
The Cry of the Xcluded, comprising several social movements and trade unions in the Western Cape will also picket at two footbridges along the Nelson Mandela Boulevard in the city this morning from 7am until 9am.
The group called for an end to the privatisation of electricity and tariff hikes; an end to budget cuts on essential services across all government spheres; safe, reliable, affordable and efficient public transport; a Basic Income Grant of R1 500; an increased municipal budget allocation for service delivery; an end to women and children abuse, and more resources in the public health and education sectors.
The Energy Crisis Movement (ECM), a newly formed civic group dedicated to holding government accountable for the energy crisis, was run by ordinary everyday people who were “gatvol” of the national rolling blackouts and the looming panic of a complete breakdown of the energy grid.
ECM will march under the banner “Blackout Sona” from 12pm to 4pm today from the CPUT parking area in Hanover Street, ending at the Grand Parade outside City Hall.
ECM spokesperson Roscoe Jacobs said: “The march seeks to raise the frustration we have as citizens and residents of South Africa with regards to the ongoing load shedding, the electricity tariff hike and the energy crisis as a whole.
“We want the government to put forward a transparent plan with an end date to load shedding. We are also calling on the government to support small businesses currently affected by load shedding.”
kristin.engel@inl.co.za