PRETORIA, April 7 (ANA) – Thousands of anti-Zuma activists gathered at the Union Buildings today in a protest calling for President Zuma to step down.
The marchers gatheered at Church Square in Pretoria on Friday before heading to the seat of government.
The large crowd of protesters from different organisations across the political spectrum were organised under the banner of Save SA.
Bishop Jo Seoka, chairman of the Bench Marks Foundation, gave a final prayer before the crowd departed. He also chanted “Phansi ngoZuma down” [down with Zuma] before the prayer.
Police helicopters and a small aircraft was hovering in the skies above the crowd.
One of the protesters, father of four, Dali Mabuya said he is “a card carrying ANC member” but he had taken a day off to be at the protest.
“I am doing this for my children. Future generation will judge us harshly if we don’t boot Zuma from office. I will not rest until South Africa gets a president it deserves. My children deserve that much,” said Mabuya.
Earlier, thousands of activists braved the rainy weather in Pretoria on Friday and gathered at Church Square, adjacent to National Treasury, for the anti-Zuma protest, demanding Zuma’s resignation.
Numerous members of the South African Police Service and Tshwane Metro Police officers were stationed nearby, monitoring the protesters.
Some of the protesters were waving placards written “No to state capture”, “Defend our democracy”, “Zuma not my President”, and “Hands off Treasury”.
The government has appealed to the people taking part in protests against President Jacob Zuma on Friday to do so “peacefully”.
Save SA has obtained permission – albeit through court action – to march to the Union Buildings to demand that Zuma step down following his unpopular Cabinet reshuffle a week ago in which Pravin Gordhan was sacked as finance minister.
Other protest marches took place in different parts of the country.
“Government has noted the planned marches set to take place on Friday, 7 April 2017 and reiterates that it is a normal working day,” a statement from the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said late on Thursday.
GCIS warned that “those who are planning to participate in marches must do so within the designated routes in a peaceful manner. They should refrain from any form of intimidation and destruction of property.
“Marchers should avoid making inflammatory statements or provocative actions that could incite violence. Conveners of the march should together with their marshals cooperate with the law enforcement agencies who will be deployed to serve and protect all citizens and property.”
The GCIS also said the planned march and delivery of a memoranda to the Union Buildings, which is a national key point requires that prior written permission is obtained from the Presidency in accordance with the Regulation of Gatherings Act, 1993.
“Government wishes to confirm that no such request was received by the Director General in the Presidency.”
– African News Agency (ANA)
