Many hawkers in the Thohoyandou CBD refrained from opening their stalls for business on Monday, 20 March, because of the national shutdown called for by the EFF.
When the South African National Defence Force and security companies were roped in to help the police maintain law and order during the strike, most community members feared that a dreadful confrontation between these security clusters and the EFF might ensue. Even though some of the big shops did open for business on Monday morning, very few customers dared to leave the safety of their homes to do their usual shopping, leaving Thohoyandou town unusually quiet.
From as early as 06:00 on Monday morning, law-enforcement agencies followed EFF members around town, whenever they gathered to march. They were accompanied from the post office to Mvusuludzo Mall, until they dispersed at a spot next to the Eastgate Mall.
After 09:00, when the day appeared to turn out peaceful after all, more hawkers started flocking into town, but no customers were around to buy their products.
Lutendo Thoboni and Azwimmbavhi Mathegu, who jointly own a makeshift eatery on the eastern side of Thohoyandou, said the strike had cost them a whole day's profit. "We sell pap and meat to our customers, but today, there are no customers. I am a mother of two and work very hard to support my family. I don't know what I will do with all the food we have cooked," Mathegu said.
Thoboni concurred with her co-worker, saying that the government should do everything in its powers to fix load shedding. "Even though I am not a politician, the issue of load shedding is affecting us in a very negative way and has to stop," she said.