The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have denied claims that their members forced businesses to close in Johannesburg's CBD following Julius Malema's sentencing in a gun discharge case. Traders shut down operations after allegedly being urged by party supporters. Gauteng MEC for Finance and EFF member Nkululeko Dunga insisted the party issued no such instructions.
Traders in Johannesburg's central business district closed their shops on Wednesday amid claims that EFF supporters urged them to do so. This followed EFF leader Julius Malema's sentencing to an effective five years in prison in a firearm discharge case.
Nkululeko Dunga, Gauteng's MEC for Finance and an EFF member, rejected the intimidation allegations. He stated that the party's activities are always conducted with respect and discipline, and no instructions were given to businesses.
"There is no such a thing. We’ve always undertaken programmes of the EFF with the highest level of respect and the highest level of discipline and this is one of such cases. But it’s not an abnormality when there’s such a large crowd that even shops themselves get to close down on the face that there could be anticipation of some level of disruption, particularly in terms of business. But there was no communication to the effect. We’ve never engaged any of these shops to do exactly that which you are claiming that they have done," Dunga said.
Dunga attributed any closures to traders' anticipation of disruptions from large gatherings, denying any organised effort by the EFF.
