Government told bus companies to cancel EFF bookings

Presidency Minister Khumbudzo Ntshaveni has defended the government’s decision to block buses from transporting Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters to various destinations during the party’s national shutdown on Monday, 20 March.

The party embarked on its planned national shutdown protest on Monday.

Amongst a long list of demands, the party demanded the end to load shedding.

During the protest, they were met with police and military forces which were dispatched around the country to ensure the safety of the citizens.

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EFF PAID TRANSNAT R1 MILLION

Malema said they had paid a Transnat bus company R1 million to hire 280 buses to transport supporters of the national shutdown.

However, the company dropped out at the last moment saying that they met with the Minister of Transport and were informed that failure to adhere to instructions will prejudice their relationship and may result in buses being impounded.

Malema condemned this action saying the government had sabotaged their national shutdown with strong arm tactics, forcing the EFF to be without a service provider at the last minute.

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♦️Must Read♦️

A corrupt Minister Of Transport, Lydia Sindisiwe Chikunga used the tender system to threaten bus companies for them to cancel all buses that the EFF booked ahead of the #NationalShutdown#RamaphosaMustGo pic.twitter.com/vvBdDwVeVL

— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) March 20, 2023

NTSHAVENI SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID WHAT IT HAD TO DO

Responding to Malema, Ntshaveni said the government did what it had to make sure that everybody plays by the rules.

“As government, we have to play our part to make sure that citizens are protected. We are not going to allow state resources to be used by hooligans wanting to disrupt the country.

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“This was a special operation, and special operations in their nature are expensive… But we are going to respond as a security cluster, but not at the level that we have (today),” said Ntshaveni as quoted by IOL.

OVER 500 PROTESTERS ARRESTED

ALSO READ: National shutdown: Over 500 protesters arrested

As of latest, the operational and intelligence structure has reportedly arrested over 500 protesters.

The arrested protesters will face charges ranging from public violence to intimidation.

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