The Democratic Alliance (DA) firmly opposes the call for a shutdown in Ficksburg on 25 May 2023, emphasising that it is not a legally sanctioned form of protest. While we understand and empathise with the community's frustrations regarding their demands and the lack of service delivery, we cannot endorse or support this particular endeavour. We firmly believe that the most effective way to bring about change in service delivery is through organized and constructive means of engagement.