The South Africa opposition leader Julius Malema has announced that the ongoing protests in the country will end at midnight.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader thanked the people for joining in on the National Shutdown’ protests, and further said the protests were successful contrary to claims that people did not turn out as anticipated.
“Thank you very much the people of South Africa and EFF ground forces for a peaceful yet vibrant EFF National Shutdown. It’s just the beginning; now, let’s go out and join the picket lines. They said it was a normal day, but you could see who the deceivers were. You proved to the doomsayers once more that we remain the only discipline force or the left. National Shutdown will end at midnight,” he wrote in tweet on Monday morning.
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The South Africa police said at least 87 people were arrested during the protests on Monday morning, as videos shared via Twitter showed protesters streaming into the streets in their numbers amid claims that a good majority had hit the streets as early as 4am.
“Of the 87 arrested, 41 were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in Northwest, 15 in Free State. There are also arrests in other provinces such as Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. Updates will be provided as and when information becomes available,” police said.
Thousands of South Africans took to the streets in protests dubbed ‘National Shutdown’ as the country grapples with issues, among them, unemployment, power cuts and wanton graft.