Zuma fires Mpumalanga leader Mary Phadi amid assassination plot allegations
EFF national chairperson Dali Mpofu says police estimate about 100, 000 people turned out for #NationalDayofAction. Picture: Rorisang Kgosana
Anti-Zuma marches organised by opposition parties, dubbed the National Day of Action, took place on Wednesday at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
The political parties – Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters, Inkatha Freedom Party, Congress of the People, African Christian Democratic Party, African People’s Convention and United Democratic Movement – are calling on President Jacob Zuma to step down following his Cabinet reshuffle and two credit ratings downgrades in the wake of the changes to the executive.
And it’s a wrap | #NationalDayOfAction pic.twitter.com/sAeu8IBXTP
— DiTiro Selepe (@tiro_1632) April 12, 2017
Speaking at the Union Buildings on Wednesday at the National Day of Action calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down, EFF leader Julius Malema clarified that the fight against Zuma was also a fight against the ANC, because Zuma was “the creation of the ANC”.
“They are to be blamed for this mess.”
He told ANC voters they had contributed to destroying the country. “But it’s not too late to join us to say ‘not in my name’.”
He had earlier said that presenting a memorandum to Zuma was pointless because Zuma was “illiterate” and would not read it because “this man will never read anything from us”.
Malema said Zuma had never had any relationship with books and giving him anything on paper would be a waste of that paper and ink.
He reminded the gathered crowd that they were going to continue the marches in every province in the country and all big cities.
Malema said race was not important and they were gathered to defend “the future of our children”. He said that if Zuma considered those marching against him to be racists, then he would be proud to be a racist.
He said that with Zuma’s current stewardship of the economy, the price of a loaf of bread would be R80 by 2019 when “we take over the government”. So South Africa could not wait for the opposition to take government in 2019.
“You are going to blame us because of problems created by this man. We must prevent it now. This is not just a useless exercise. You came out in your numbers.
“We want these numbers again when we debate a motion of no confidence in parliament. Our people must come out and say ‘enough is enough’.”
Malema cautioned that revolution was not a birthday party, but would take time, therefore they needed to be persistent.
He slammed Gwede Mantashe for changing his tune on Zuma, but thanked Kgalema Motlanthe and Thabo Mbeki for joining the call asking for Zuma to step down. He also called ANC MPs cowards, but encouraged them to take the opportunity to do the right thing and vote against Zuma.
“I worked with all of them. They are cowards.” But he said General Bantu Holomisa was “making arrangements” for a secret vote so that the cowards could vote Zuma out.
He then referenced the allegation from Minister Lindiwe Sisulu that her life had been threatened and that she had even met the man who’d been sent to kill her. She had not even openly spoken out against Zuma and her life was put in danger – what about those who would speak openly, Malema asked.
The EFF leader added that he was not scared of Zuma’s security forces and government did not have a “monopoly on violence”.
However, he asked his supporters to go home peacefully and continue to mobilise peacefully.
“Please let’s go back peacefully. Let us protect each other.”
WATCH: Police fired stun grenades at looters #sabcnews #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/ismVvXMwX2
— Tshepiso Moche (@tshepimoche) April 12, 2017
Over 100k people at Union Buildings
At least a hundred thousand South Africans gathered at the Union Building when opposition parties united to march against President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday.
#NationalDayofAction Joshua Zimmerman says he is a member of EFF and looks up to Julius Malema. #VK pic.twitter.com/Rj9v7n7LsW
— Virginia Keppler-Young (@VKeppler) April 12, 2017
Marchers from diverse political parties have arrived at the seat of power in Pretoria:
We arrive at Union Buildings | #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/vNGmjjxd3D
— DiTiro Selepe (@tiro_1632) April 12, 2017
Marches arrive | #NationalDayOfAction pic.twitter.com/gAXuX5NpMR
— DiTiro Selepe (@tiro_1632) April 12, 2017
#NationalDayofAction marching to Union buildings pic.twitter.com/0wG79FuttL
— Sikelelwa Mdingi (@SikiGeyaMdingi) April 12, 2017
Meanwhile, marchers begin to arrive at the Union Buildings:
We’ve entered Union Buildings #NationalDayofAction #OppositionMarch pic.twitter.com/ON7mfkUYCl
— Abigail Javier (@AbigailJavier_) April 12, 2017
Hand in hand, South Africa is united on the premise that #ZumaMustGo! #NationalDayOfAction is a bold declaration in the face of kleptocracy! pic.twitter.com/9Wkcf6fwrB
— EFF Official Account (@EFFSouthAfrica) April 12, 2017
WATCH: Save SA has joined opposition parties in their #NationalDayofAction. Listen to what the coalition of civil society organisations has to say. Video: Nhlawulo chauke
#NationalDayofAction in pictures:
Tracy Madia, 79, is being helped along but she says it’s important to march. She’s from Cope’s Women League #NationalDayofAction
Cope and the ANC walk hand in hand #NationalDayofAction #ZumaMustFall pic.twitter.com/EQHD6bVIqp
— Vauldi Carelse (@vauldicarelse) April 12, 2017
#NationalDayofAction in videos:
Earlier
The barbed wire is up again and there is a much stronger police presence this time at the Union Buildings in the capital city on the National Day of Action called by opposition parties.
READ MORE:
//
According to our reporter on the ground, Nhlawulo chauke, the man in the video was caught attempting to break into a shop with a hammer in the Pretoria CBD.
WATCH: Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota says it’s time for Zuma to go. Video: Rorisang Kgosana
WATCH: The deputy president of the ACDP, Wayne Thring, says he is happy about the turnout for today’s march. Video: Nhlawulo chauke
Catch live coverage of the protests happening at the Union Buildings today below:
//
For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.