At least 87 people have been arrested in South Africa ahead of the planned anti-government protests in South Africa.
According to the SABC, the 87 were arrested from various parts of the country with violence-related offences.
The arrests come at the backdrop of protests by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
The Julius Malema-led outfit is decrying social and economic challenges faced by South Africans, including crime, corruption, load shedding and unemployment amongst others.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said 41 of the 87 were arrested in Gauteng, 29 in North West, 15 in Free State.
"There are also arrests in other provinces such as Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape. Updates will be provided as and when information becomes available," Mathe said.
NatJoints said at least 24,300 tyres have been confiscated by law enforcement agencies.
"These were tyres that were strategically placed for acts of criminality – 6 000 were seized in the Western Cape, 4 500 in the Free State, 3600 in Gauteng, 1 513 in the Eastern Cape."
The EFF has also called for a national shutdown to protest crippling power cuts and demand the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa.
