Taxi and truck industry will not support national shutdown

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The majority of communities and various sectors of society including SANTACO, the National Taxi Association, the Road Freight Association and organized structures within communities, have rejected the EFF's call for a national shutdown on the 20th of March.

This is according to the Minister of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) which released a detailed statement to the media on Thursday.

"We want to assure everyone in the country that the 20th of March will be a normal business day. We want to reiterate to our international community that contrary to the pronouncements by those advocating for any disruption, all ports of entry - land, sea and air - will be operational. " reads the statement.

The country's law enforcement agencies through National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) will ensure multidisciplinary deployments and that the necessary contingency plans are already in place.

Police reiterated the following:

• Measures have been put in place to ensure that everyone who wants to go to work, travel for leisure and conduct business on this day does so in a safe and secure environment.
• Law enforcement officers will be out in their numbers to protect them, whilst enforcing the law.
• Anyone who intimidates, stops anyone from going to work, barricades the roads and highways and uses any form of violence will face the full might of the law.
• Spreading social media messages spreading fear, intimidation and inciting violence is a criminal offence
• Monday will be a normal working day for all South Africans.