BLOEMFONTEIN – The Bloemfontein police have warned the public about “false” digital posters circulated by unknown individuals on social media, announcing a total shutdown in the Mangaung Metro Municipality on Monday, 25 May.
The posters cite various issues that residents in the Mangaung Metro are grappling with as reasons for the shutdown. A voice note recorded in the Sotho language has also been circulated on various social media platforms.
Police advised community members to verify social media posts and posters before acting on fake news. “Fake posters or digital flyers announcing, for instance, a ‘community total shutdown’ are highly effective tools for disinformation. Even when entirely fabricated, they can create immediate chaos because they exploit public anxiety and the fast, unchecked nature of social media sharing,” said Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli, provincial spokesperson for the police.
Police also warned of criminal infiltration, adding that measures are in place for any eventuality arising from the planned Mangaung Metro shutdown tomorrow, as suggested in social media posters and voice notes. “Local criminal elements or gangs may see the widespread panic as an invitation to engage in looting, arson, or opportunistic robberies, using the ‘shutdown’ narrative as a shield for criminality. A poster can act as a spark and make residents feel unsafe leaving their homes. Individuals who are already frustrated by service delivery or other socio-economic issues might see the flyer and decide to start actively barricading roads, effectively creating a protest where none existed before,” he said.
Kareli highlighted the immediate impact of total shutdowns in the broader community, frequently associated with blocked roads, burning tyres, and clashes. “This disrupts local businesses, manufacturing, and essential public services. Fearing for their safety or fearing intimidation, workers stay home. Schools may close to protect children, and clinics or mobile health services may suspend operations, leaving vulnerable people without access to care or medication. Taxi associations, bus services, and private motorists may alter their routes or halt operations entirely to avoid potential stoning or burning of vehicles,” he said.
A poster bearing the National Service Delivery Forum (NSDF) branding and a recorded voice note insist the shutdown is happening in the Mangaung Metro tomorrow. However, efforts by NovaNews to reach the organisation for verification and comment were unsuccessful.
