DA leader John Steenhuisen will take legal action against the government after a four-year-old girl died in a school pit toilet. Image: Facebook/DA

National Shutdown: Steenhuisen clarifies urgent court applications

The DA wants courts to compel the EFF to retract violent threats and ensure compliance with local regulations for the protests.

by Storm Simpson

16-03-2023 15:39

in News

DA leader John Steenhuisen will take legal action against the government after a four-year-old girl died in a school pit toilet. Image: Facebook/DA

The Democratic Alliance (DA) filed an approached the country’s court for urgent interdicts ahead of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) National Shutdown planned for Monday, 20 March.

READ: National Shutdown LIVE UPDATES

DA argues for public safety, seeks withdrawal of violent threats

According to SABC News, DA leader John Steenhuisen clarified that his party approached the courts to have violent threats to the public retracted.

“If you look at our court papers, the thrust of the argument is to have the threats of disruption for people who don’t participate withdrawn and to ensure that all local regulations are complied with for the gatherings of the EFF and the retraction of the threats of violence that have been made by several EFF leaders on public platforms,” he said.

According to Steenhuisen, the DA never said the march must be stopped since people have a right to protest.

He said the DA has also protested “peacefully” in a way that does not disrupt businesses and threaten people.

EFF denies violence

At a press conference on Wednesday, EFF leader Julius Malema said there would be no violence from his supporters and added that the EFF does not have a record of violent protests.

However, Malema told the media that anyone who came after him on the day would meet their maker. He also told supporters to return any violence dealt to them “times two,”