(National Shutdown) granted by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division BUT…
The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has dismissed the DA’s urgent court application which sought to render the EFF’s planned national shutdown on Monday illegal & unconstitutional.
Section 17 of the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of assembly and protest. It is a result of that right that the High Court ruled against the Democratic Alliance and have approved the shutdown planned by the EFF on 20 March 2023. The march has been declared lawful and shall proceed as planned.
BUT the judgement explicitly forbids the EFF and all associated with the political party from shutting down businesses, schools, trade & public roads as well as retail stores.
Therefore the EFF’s planned national shutdown is lawful so long as they do NOT :
(1)shut down schools , retail stores, businesses, trade & public roads (2)calling for , promoting, instigating or organizing the blocking of roads or railway lines, and/or the shutting down of schools , retail stores , businesses and trades (3)organizing or participating in , or inciting others to organize or participate in any, unlawful conduct and/or unlawful protest action (4) inciting violence.
The EFF’s planned national shutdown is given the ‘go-ahead’ subject to adherence to the
court judgement which states that the rights of others shouldn’t be infringed upon in the process.
Are you participating in the march tomorrow? Yes? That’s alright and constitutional. Just ensure that you do not contravene the judgement otherwise you will be arrested for criminal acts.