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The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) in KwaZulu-Natal has distanced itself from an alleged plan to “shut down” Durban.
This follows a voice memo circulating on WhatsApp in which a person speaking on isiZulu claimed that the MKMVA had met with various groups, including taxi associations, to plan a shutdown in protest against corruption and foreigners.
But on Friday, the day the widespread protest was supposed to take place, the association issued a statement, saying that its provincial executive committee (PEC) stated “categorically that it has not invited members of Umkhonto we Sizwe to participate in the alleged closure of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal in order to oblige the government and the ruling party … to meet the demands of all the combatants of the liberation armies ”.
Provincial Secretary Jazzman Mthembu said that the MKMVA had a relationship with the provincial government and that if there were any commitments that his PEC intended to initiate, its doors were always open to meet and involve provincial leaders in government and the ANC.
“Any MKMVA member participating in the shutdown would have done so in their own independent right. The MKMVA PEC also wishes to call on all its members to avoid such a planned shutdown, ”said Mthembu.
In the audio, which began circulating on Tuesday, a man said: “This is what is going to happen, many roads in KZN will be closed, especially the Tongaat and Mariannhill toll plaza and all of Durban. It will be closed by Umkhonto we Sizwe soldiers and students and taxi drivers.
“This was a decision made yesterday at Albert Park. This is to protest [against] all foreign citizens and to force the ANC government to get involved and remove corrupt officials. “
Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Thulani Gonya said in a statement that police had been deployed to deal with the protests and that they would be reinforced on identified routes and locations.
“We will enforce the laws of this country and anyone found in violation will be arrested. We will ensure that disaster management regulations are also enforced in terms of forbidden gatherings as well as the number of gatherings that will be allowed, ”said Gonya.
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