PRETORIA, 19 March. /TASS/. South African President and Supreme Commander Cyril Ramaposa ordered 3,400 military personnel to be sent to the streets of the country’s cities in order to prevent unrest in connection with the declared March 20 national day of protest by the left-wing party “Economic Freedom Fighters” (EFF). This was reported on Sunday by a local radio station. SABC with reference to the representative of the Parliament Moloto Motapo.
“The speakers of both houses of parliament were informed about the decision of the head of state to use military formations to prevent acts of violence and to maintain law and order in the country,” he said. The troops will be in the cities of South Africa from March 17 to April 17.
EFF leader Julius Malema announced that his party is calling next Monday for a massive outing of the country’s citizens into the streets demanding the restoration of the normal operation of the electricity industry and for the resignation of Ramaposa from the presidency. Malema said that on March 20 in South Africa there will be a complete paralysis of the work of enterprises, transport, schools, shops, various institutions and services. A real revolution will begin in South Africa, said the leader of the radical left. In turn, Ramaposa stressed that any manifestations of violence will be severely suppressed by the forces of law and order.
SABC reports that reinforced squads of security forces set up posts at Johannesburg International Airport on Sunday to prevent Malema supporters from fulfilling their promise and paralyzing air traffic.
