President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa has supported the ongoing anti-government demonstrations organized by Julius Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, provided they remain peaceful.
President Ramaphosa said on Monday that everyone in the state has the constitutional right to peacefully and unarmed gather, demonstrate picket, and present petitions.
Nonetheless, he made the point that no one should be coerced into participating in the march or using the protests as a platform to incite a disturbance.
Part of the statement said: "It is entirely within the rights of any individual or group to call for South Africans to join in protest actions freely.
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"But, it must be made clear that the freedom to protest does not grant someone the authority to target, threaten, or intimidate another person. It does not grant anyone the authority to injure another person or cause property damage."
The Head of State stated that every security precaution had been taken to guarantee the peacefulness of the protests, including the nationwide deployment of police personnel.
"The government will always have measures to ensure that everyone who wants to go to work, travel for pleasure, or do business can do so in a safe and secure environment," he added. "In fulfilment of its constitutional responsibility to protect the rights of all people.
Ramaphosa's handling of South Africa's ailing economy, electricity shortages, and sky-high unemployment has prompted the EFF to call for his resignation.
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The party advised would-be protestors in a statement on Saturday that their activities "must be militant and radical," but to behave "peacefully" and be on the lookout for "agent provocateurs" trying to hijack the strike.
EFF leader Julius Malema said to supporters on Friday that a revolution cannot be stopped.
According to Malema, ports, the legislature, border crossings, and the Johannesburg stock exchange will be the focus of significant demonstrations.
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