The provincial Chairperson of the party, Mapheule Liphoko, said he was impressed by the turnout of EFF members throughout the province. He said their efforts to mobilise people to join the march were very successful. He further said the unfortunate part of the shutdown was that 37 members of the EFF were arrested throughout the province. Liphoko lashed out at the conduct of police officers during the national shutdown.

“We were expecting this, especially when the police were behaving the way they were behaving. Raiding our people’s houses without warrants of arrest, and the conduct was not good – at least from their side. Even during the march, it was no longer a service it turned into a force. But we are very pleased to say that we have achieved the outcome of the march. For the first time the Free State people saw a full police service," he said.  

ALSO READ: Petrusburg police accused of assaulting teenager during shutdown

During the national shutdown on Monday, Petrusburg police allegedly assaulted a 17-year-old boy. 

The SABC crew was attacked by members of the community while covering the national shutdown in Dewetsdorp Road, Bloemfontein. The crew was allegedly ordered out of the area and threatened with large rocks.

ALSO READ – Breaking News: SABC crew attacked during Bloemfontein protest

In Kimberley, tensions were high as law enforcement agencies fired shots at protesters coming from Greenpoint, a small town about two kilometres outside the city.

ALSO READ: Tension rises in Kimberley amidst EFF national shutdown

The spokesperson for the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints), Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, announced that 95 arrests were effected in the Northern Cape and 64 in the Free State.

ALSO READ – Shutdown: Police arrest 95 in Northern Cape, 64 in Free State

Meanwhile,  Liphoko said he is hoping that president Cyril Ramaphosa will resign soon.

OFM News