EFF 'NATIONAL SHUTDOWN' UPDATES

So far, Pretoria has been quiet with streets open, traffic flowing but a high police presence.

Among those leading the national shutdown action at Church Square in Pretoria is former ANC member Carl Neihaus.

Niehaus was there representing his civil movement African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (Areta), which he said intends to register as a political party.

He said the strong law enforcement contingent was reminiscent of the 1976 Soweto uprising.

He claimed some soldiers and police members told him they were unhappy about being deployed as they share the protesters’ sentiments.

Members of the military, police and Tshwane metro police department are out in full force at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, as protesters taking part in the national shutdown are expected to descend on the area.

Officers armed with shields stood near the fence separating the national key point from a public park.