International

#NationalShutdown trends & Ramaphosa suspends World Economic Forum trip, read why

JeetRatneshwar

Published on January 16, 2023

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Key Takeaways:

On January 25, a march led by the Democratic Alliance to the ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters at Luthuli House was called for by John Steenhuisen.

To protest the “ANC-engineered electricity crisis,” John Steenhuisen has urged people to march with the Democratic Alliance on January 25 to the ANC’s headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.

“[We] will specifically go after Luthuli House because it is the scene of a crime that the ANC has been committing against the people of South Africa by enforcing stage 6 load shedding permanently and implementing the most recent 18.65% electricity rate increase.

The choices to “deploy” the dishonest and inept cadres who pillaged and destroyed Eskom over the past three decades were made at Luthuli House, according to Steenhuisen.

“Corruption tenders were given out at Luthuli House, including for the ill-fated construction of the Medupi as well as Kusile power stations, which have cost our country so dearly,” he continued.

All Ramaphosa is going to do is make more excuses and false "Ramapromises" as he did below. It's time for rolling mass protest action across the length and breadth of the country. The citizens of RSA need to show this government that enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/nD3qXTrSNV
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) January 15, 2023

On Twitter, #NationalShutdown is trending:

The first of what could be many “shutdown” strikes have begun in Kroonstad, Free State, as evidenced by a series of videos and photos of protestors shared on the platform. The shutdown will last until February 9, according to the caption, which includes the trending hashtag.

Zibu Masotobe Sibiya, Founder of MMC SA, CEO of Zoluhle Group, Business Consultant & Coach, and Mandela Washington Fellow, according to his bio.

Lover of Africa and Future President of South Africa” posted the following on Facebook, and since then, numerous.

In the meantime, the worsening energy crisis has forced President Rhamaposa to postpone his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Vincent Magwenya, the President’s Twitter spokesperson, announced the cancellation on Sunday.

The statement says:

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has cancelled his working trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos due to the ongoing energy crisis.

The National Energy Crisis Committee (NECCOM), the Eskom board, and the leaders of the political parties represented in parliament are currently meeting under the President’s call.