EFF takes Ramaphosa head-on wants clarity on the deployment of soldiers to violence hotspots
Despite having a backlash on social media over their stance on the deployment of soldiers to violence hotspots EFF has issued an ultimatum to the President.
In the wake of this deployment, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has given President Cyril Ramaphosa until the close of business on Tuesday to clarify the deployment of soldiers to violence hotspots.
In an urgent letter from the EFF’s lawyers, sent last night, the party asks the president to clarify the legal basis for the deployment of the national defence force, the powers the soldiers will have at places of unrest and a copy of an agreement between the South African Police Service and the SANDF.
However, EFF argument is based on the conduct at which the soldiers will operating at. The party has it that there should be a clear understanding so as to avoid more deaths. The party don’t want history to repeat itself just like what happened at Marikana and the coronavirus lockdown in 2020 when the army’s deployment left several people dead.
EFF takes Ramaphosa head-on wants clarity on the deployment of soldiers to violence hotspots
On Monday night the President did a family meeting in regards to the violent protests that have taken a toll not only on South Africa’s economy but political affairs. President Ramaphosa announced that the government is mobilising all security resources to restore order to the areas affected by violence.
Protestors have been taking to the streets in the last few days, demanding the release of the former president, Jacob Zuma, after his incarceration last week. The demonstrations have morphed into mass looting and vandalism, mostly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The EFF’s National Spokesperson, Vuyani Pambo, has slammed Ramaphosa’s handling of the ongoing protests, saying it shows a lack of political leadership.
“The army is not the solution. There is a lack of political leadership in this country. We would not be where we are if Ramaphosa is truly the commander in chief. We are dealing with a president who has not met the looters, he has not gone on the ground.
He is scared of the very people that he claims to be a president of. Every road is being closed because Ramaphosa has no plan. Now soldiers are being deployed. Why are they being deployed when there is political leadership,” adds Pambo.