President Cyril Ramaphosa sets to address nation on ongoing unrest, says Ntshavheni
By Mcebo Makhaye
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on Monday night, following the ongoing public violence in parts of the country.
The acting minister in the presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has confirmed that Ramaphosa will announce government’s response to persistent violent protests happening in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng, respectively.
This comes hours after Ramaphosa together with his cabinet has taken a decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), due to the widespread protests which have resulted in the looting and torching of shops and trucks.
In a statement released on Monday, the presidency said Ramaphosa is eligible to deploy national defence force but must consult the Parliament first.
“In terms of Section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution, the President may authorise the deployment of the national defence force in cooperation with the police service and must inform Parliament of such employment,” the statement reads.
The presidency further said urged citizens to be cautious of what they post on social media, and to avoid sharing fake news or content that incites violence and looting.
“The majority of South Africa do not and should not tolerate violence, the destruction of property and the endangering of livelihoods,” the statement adds.
In addition, people are urged to report criminals by sharing videos of criminal activity with the police.
However, the presidency did not provide the exact time of Ramaphosa’s address.
This is a developing story.
Compiled by Mcebo Makhaye.
