Protests: get the right information

THE political volatility of the past week’s events – starting with President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle – have caused waves of discontent across the country, not least on social media channels.

After former finance minister Pravin Gordhan urged the citizens of South Africa to organise, the internet has been exceptionally active this week with suggestions from innumerable quarters on how best to do this.

One is that today will be a Black Friday with protest action on a large scale, including a business shutdown and marches to significant public spaces in cities across the country.

However, will today really reveal a show of unity and mobilisation on a grand scale by the people of South Africa? Or will it rather unmask an avalanche of sheer hysteria and fake news whipped up by the chattering classes?

In only a few hours we shall know.

However, by the close of business yesterday, The Herald was only aware of one attributable event today in the Nelson Mandela Bay metro.

This is the 1pm rally at Vuyisile Mini Square, spearheaded by SaveSA.

Thanks to the viral effect of social media, however, this newspaper has been fielding calls from individuals and companies anxious to know what is happening.

We ask you, if you are supporting SaveSA, please make sure you are correctly informed.

Don’t be taken in by fake Whatsapp messages, such as the warning not to talk about politics on pain of arrest for cyber crime. This is a hoax and there are others doing the rounds.

Messages that police will not assist marchers, or that SaveSA has planned a car cavalcade to start at Pick n Pay Hypermarket, are simply not true.

Individual citizens may of course decide to wear black to work, drive their vehicles down Cape Road, sign online petitions and change their Facebook profiles.

We urge readers: do not let emotions cloud your judgement and obliterate your common sense.