VIDEOS: Protesters make way to the Union Buildings

The day began with a People’s Rally at Church Square at 10:00, with entertainment and speakers. T-shirts and banners were handed out by organisers.

April 7, 2017

Vivien van der Sandt 2 minutes read

Protesters enroute to the Union Buildings. Photo: Ron Sibiya

Pretoria is at the hub today of nationwide marches and protests calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down.

Sites in Pretoria likely to be part of the action are the Union Buildings and Church Square.
There may also be marches in support of Zuma, but details of these remain sketchy.

More people are making their way to the church square via Paul Kruger Street #AntiZumaMarches

— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) April 7, 2017

The SA Communist Party in Gauteng had planned a march to the Treasury to present a memorandum to “reject state capture”, but that has been postponed because the City of Tshwane had refused permission, said the party’s provincial secretary, Jacob Mamabolo.

According to reports, the President’s official residence, Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Bryntirion, Pretoria, has been barricaded with barbed wire.

ALSO READ: Protest numbers increasing in Pta

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said they would not be commenting on what measures had been taken for “crowd control”.

The day began with a People’s Rally at Church Square at 10:00, with entertainment and speakers.
T-shirts and banners were handed out by organisers.

Our reporter on the ground Gopolang Chawane reports that thousands had turned up at Church Square by 11:30 and a group of bikers have also joined the march.

Banners proclaimed: “SA is not for sale”, and “Defend our Democracy”, among others.
According to organisers SaveSA (who are supported by several Civil Society organisations),
The march itself was scheduled for 12:00 but began earlier, according to reports.

Crowd already heading to Union Buildings. #AntiZumaMarches

— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) April 7, 2017

Organisers SaveSa said: “All the necessary permissions have been granted – this is a legal march, and we are calling on all people who care about their country to join us and say one thing loudly and clearly: Zuma must go!”

SaveSa successfully applied to the Chief Magistrate on Thursday for permission to hold the march to the Union Buildings.

City of Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga supported the march.

😂😂😂 He is putting a bulletproof vest👀👀..the rest of us dololo vest😂😂😂..#AntiZumaMarches pic.twitter.com/3swqFBxDPg

— Sizwe (@mehlulisizwe) April 7, 2017

“This march has always had the support of the DA-led administration in the Capital and we fully support the Constitutional right for South Africans to protest in a manner that is commensurate with the law,” he said. Several hundred marshals have been arranged along the route from Church Square, up Madiba Street to the Union Buildings.

People’s March Protests are also taking place in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.