SAPS must act against EFF for flagrant disregard of lockdown regualtions

5 August 2021

The DA is calling on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to take action against the EFF after yet another of their marches has broken numerous lockdown regulations to which ordinary South Africans are required to adhere.

Pictures and videos of the EFF’s march from eThekwini to Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal clearly shows protestors without masks, gathering in a large crowd with no social distancing being maintained. It’s certainly interesting that the EFF is claiming to protest the lives lost during the riots and looting in KZN nearly a month ago, but cares so little for the lives and safety of their supporters in the midst of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst ordinary citizens would have endured the full wrath of SAPS, and have been persecuted for lesser transgressions, the EFF is allowed to do as they please and endanger the lives of people by not only hosting potential super-spreader events, but also with the threat of violence, vandalism and intimidation that has become synonymous with EFF protests.

In a letter to the DA responding to questions about SAPS’ heavy-handed response to tourism sector protestors outside Parliament in 2020, the National Police Commissioner General Kehla Sithole stated that “SAPS administers a gradual approach and negotiates with the participants and, if this fails, the participants are audibly warned to disperse. Failure to comply, will result in minimum force being applied”. SAPS clearly has different rules when it comes to the EFF, as unless opposition parties or individuals open charges against them, SAPS consistently fails to act against the EFF when they break the law.

It is time SAPS realised that they are not the EFF’s private security, they exist for the safety and security of ordinary South Africans who are regularly threatened and intimidated by the EFF and whose businesses routinely bear the brunt of their violence and vandalism. It cannot be that a party that only preaches violence and hatred and incites its supporters to unspeakable acts are protected when they flagrantly and proudly break laws and regulations.

Statement issued by Andrew Whitfield MP - DA Shadow Minister of Police, 5 August 2021