Exercising your right to protest cannot infringe on the rights of others

Political parties are adept at the game of theatrics and grandstanding, and on the odd occasion may do actual good for the people they claim to represent and for whom they claim to advocate. 

The EFF is particularly good at this, as it capitalises on emotive issues that plague most of the country, such as blackouts, on­­going racial fires and searing unemployment. And, of course, last week it decided to test its support by staging a national shutdown. The shutdown was purported to be about protesting against rolling blackouts, but also demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa vacate his office as President.

Now, the EFF is known to be quite radical and forceful in its assertions and initially used quite intimidating language in trying to marshal support. However, when law enforcement responded, stating that no intimidation and vandalism would be tolerated, it quickly toned down its message. 

However, what is important to note here, particularly in the spirit of commemorating our hard-fought human rights, which are etched in the blood of the 69 people who died at the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, is that exercising your rights cannot infringe on the rights of others.

In other words, although it is indeed the EFF’s right to protest, as guaranteed in the Constitution, it is also the right of others not to be intimidated into participating. 

It is also worth noting that the DA’s attempt to deny the EFF its right to protest is in itself undemocratic, unlawful and unconstitutional, and shows that it does not have a full appreciation of how important the right to protest is in a country where people were slaughtered by an apartheid government for daring to demand their human rights.

Timing and legitimacy