At least 87 people have been arrested in South Africa for committing various offences across the country in connection with the National Shutdown, Police Minister Bheki Cele on Monday.
The second opposition Economic Freedom Fighters called for a national shutdown to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign from office due to his alleged poor handling of the economy – especially the energy crisis with its constant rolling blackouts and youth unemployment.
The majority of the 87 were nabbed in Gauteng province, Cele told reporters at a media briefing in Johannesburg.
“Most of them were found making fires, blocking roads and trying to prevent people from going to work. They were not peaceful,” the minister said.
Cele alleged that some were also trampling on the roofs of parked cars, and the police used minimum force and stun grenades to defuse the situation.
According to him, community members were assisting the police to prevent the looting of shops.
He said they had received reports of an attack in Dube, Soweto where a butchery was petrol bombed early Monday morning and another one on a television news crew in Cape Town, with one member of the crew hospitalised.
Cele, however, maintained the situation was mostly under control despite fires reported in several townships.
“At this point it looks like the situation is normal. People are going to work,” he added.
NM/jn/APA