ANC members held a counter protest as DA members and ordinary South Africans held anti-Zuma marches, calling on President Jacob Zuma to resign from his position as president of the country.
On 7 April, ANC members came out in numbers to rally their support behind President Jacob Zuma and protect Luthuli House.
Leah Rikhotso, who resides in the Johannesburg CBD, said she attended the protest to protect Luthuli House and ensure that anti-Zuma protesters do not set foot anywhere near the headquarters of the ANC. “Luthuli house is our revolution house and we do not want any opposition party members to treat it like a playground.”
Read VIDEO: DA supporter calls on unity to go beyond anti-Zuma march
Rikhotso made this comment in reference to initial plans of the DA to march to Luthuli House. The DA had to change their route, citing fears of possible violence and marched from the Westgate Transport Hub to Mary Fitzgerald Square.
Another group of ANC members from the Free State echoed the same sentiments as Rikhotso. They said it was provocative of the DA to want to march to their headquarters. “The DA cannot dictate to the ANC on what to do and how to do things,” said Nonki Radilateng.
She said she was there to show her support for Zuma and all the recent changes that he made to his cabinet. She continued: “I believe that the president knows what he is doing. Let’s give all newly appointed ministers time to prove themselves. We can’t just criticise them before they have even proved that they are capable of doing their jobs.”
These ANC members joined more than 600 Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans who descended on Luthuli House with the aim of protecting it against those protesting and calling on Zuma to resign.
Most of the ANC protesters said they were ready to fight the enemy (those calling for Zuma to resign) and some were armed with stones, bricks and sticks. They hurled insults at buses carrying DA supporters that drove past Beyers Naudé Square en route to drop off protesters.
