JOC and law enforcement ready for EFF’s national shutdown in Mpumalanga

The EFF has confirmed that it will be taking to the streets in a planned national shutdown on Monday March 20.

So far, it seems as if the Lowveld will not be spared.

As with a previous planned shutdown last year, the Lowveld Security Joint Operation Command (JOC) will activate and position its members across the city and surrounds, confirmed Frank Swanepoel of Hi-Tech on behalf on the JOC. Its command centre will be based in the Lowveld Media building, from where updates on the shutdown situation will be shared.

The JOC is comprised of security companies and various community organisations.

One of the members of the JOC, Tobie du Preez of Divergent Ops, said in situations like these, they are pessimistic optimists. “We prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” He said they do not want to create a panic among residents, but it can never do any harm to be prepared for any actions that might result from the planned shutdown.

ALSO READ: Another speedster arrested in Schoemanskloof

John Meintjes of ACS Spartan Security said although the JOC does not have an official number on which residents can report incidents, the JOC recommends that they contact their local security company should they have any information relevant to the shutdown. The whole idea of the JOC is to have one central point from where accurate and verified information is shared.

Meintjes said these are the members who form part of the JOC:
• ACS Spartan
• AfriForum
• AG Solutions
• Bossies Community Justice
• CPI
• Divergent Ops
• Excellerate Services
• Fidelity
• Fidelity SIU
• Hi-Tech Security
• iSecure
• Lowveld Tracking
• Naspoti Security Solutions
• Nelspruit Concerned Citizens
• Nelspruit CPF
• Netstar
• Risk Operation Centre
• Riverside CID
• Securicon Lowveld
• SPAR Lowveld
• SRRS Security Operations
• Taysec
• Thorburn Security
• Urban Africa Security Services
• We Care 4 Nelspruit

The national police spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said it is the EFF’s responsibility to ensure its planned protest does not turn violent, but remains peaceful.

ALSO READ: Councillor addresses open letter to City of Mbombela mayor

Mathe said the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure has begun preparing for the day. “The SAPS will not tolerate any lawlessness and criminality during the shutdown,” she said.

In Mpumalanga, the police will also be on high alert, confirmed a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala. “We are also ready and will definitely deploy our members in all the strategic places to ensure there is no criminality on the day. We would strongly like to warn and caution against any criminal behaviour. Our members will arrest anyone found to have violated and broken the laws of the country,” he warned.

Lowvelder will post regular updates on its Facebook page as the day unfolds.