Thousands of others gathered in other parts of the country, according to footage on local media. ECRNewsWatch NationalShutdown
Several thousand protesters gathered at a square in the capital Pretoria preparing to march to the Union Buildings, the seat of government, where police and troops were on patrol.Eight-seven protestors were arrested for violence-related offences overnight, according to the police.
"The damage that the Ramaphosa government is causing is so terrible that we cannot tolerate it any longer. They must go now," he told AFP."They have proven beyond doubt that they cannot rule this country, that they cannot manage this country," he said.The authorities said they were on high alert to maintain security, with nearly 3,500 troops available to assist police.
Most shops across the country protectively pulled their shutters down, and one Pretoria auto dealership had removed all vehicles from its display. People have the freedom to demonstrate, but "no-one should be forced, threatened or intimidated into joining that protest," Ramaphosa said on Monday in his weekly newsletter.
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