South Africa's Economic Freedom Fighters will not take responsibility for any form of violence during Monday's national shutdown.
EFF President Julius Malema said during a radio interview that they cannot take responsibility for things they are not bent on doing.
"We can't take responsibility for things we have not sanctioned. We have not sanctioned violence. It is the responsibility of law enforcement to always maintain peace and order in society," Malema said.
The EFF has called for a national shutdown on Monday to protest against load shedding, high unemployment, poor education and a host of other issues afflicting the nation.
Load-shedding, intentional power rationing, has been part of South Africa's power grid since 2007.
Malema has threatened to unleash the “mother of all protests” which he said will bring South Africa to a standstill on March 20.
Authorities in the country have confirmed that they are on high alert saying they "acknowledges the right of everyone to participate in protests and exercise their rights to express themselves."
"The municipality will put measures in place to protect municipal property and to minimise disruptions should they occur," Overstrand Municipality said in a statement.
Malema assured that the planned protests will be peaceful as the EFF has made arrangements for security marshals to ensure agents of violence are isolated.
He said the protests will culminate in the delivery of petitions to concerned authorities with whom they seek an audience over their grievances.
"We do not subscribe to violence. We have run big marches but we have never engaged in violence."
Malema said he does not understand what the fuss is all about concerning Monday's protest yet no one raised finger over ANC's Friday
"On Friday on a working day, they are going to shut down the town, we are not saying anything about their march," he said.
