The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) planned national shutdown should not infringe on the human rights of those who do not wish to participate in the protest.
The red berets will take to the streets on Monday, calling for an end to load shedding and for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.
The commission said although it acknowledges the impact of load shedding on South Africans, those who are going to work or school should not be intimidated or harmed, as they will also be exercising their freedom of movement.
The SAHRC also expressed concern about intimidatory messages that were circulated in the media.
“While all are assured of the right to demonstrate and show dissatisfaction, as provided for in the Constitution, the commission is concerned by the level of threat and intimidation being communicated in the media, and other platforms as part of the build-up to the protest action,” said SAHRC spokesperson Wisani Baloyi.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International South Africa has called on police, private security, and protesters to show restraint, ahead of the shutdown.
The human rights organization sounded the alarm on the routine heavy handiness of police and the use of rubber bullets and other projectiles against peaceful protesters.
In a report released by the organization this week, it revealed that the misuse of rubber bullets and other less lethal weapons by law enforcement officials killed dozens of people and wounded thousands in more than 30 countries over the last five years, including South Africa.
In those last five years, Amnesty International South Africa said it documented the unlawful, and often punitive, use of rubber bullets, where police fired shots at short range randomly into crowds of peaceful or fleeing protesters.
The group’s Mienke Steytler said South African police who misused rubber bullets were hardly ever held accountable.
“As Monday’s national shutdown nears, Amnesty National South Africa calls for restraint. Security personnel should only use force as the very last resort, even then, only the bare minimum to prevent injury or loss of life.”\
Steytler called for tighter regulations in public order policing situations.
-EWN
In other news – Actress Sophie Ndaba’s ex-husband, Max now a pastor
South African actress, Sophie Ndaba’s former husband, Max Lichaba leaves his business to accept the pastoral calling. According to TshishaLive, the businessman resigned as the MD of the popular chesa nyama Kwa Lichaba Lounge.
“I decided to resign principally because of the decision to follow my calling of being a pastor,” he said. The Lichaba family will continue to manage the business while he begins his pastoral journey in the coming months at Nation Hope Ministries in the East Rand, Johannesburg. Learn More
