Parties call national day of action
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE BULLIED BY ANYONE, NOT EVEN THOSE IN THAT UNIFORM FROM PEP WHICH THEY WEAR AT LUTHULI HOUSE
EFF LEADER Julius Malema warned pro-Zuma activists not to attempt disrupting a mega protest, incorporating numerous opposition political parties, scheduled for Pretoria this week.
“We are going to get the letter (of approval for the protest) which we are going to publish. All the formalities have been met… ” Malema said while addressing a joint media briefing in Pretoria, flanked by top officials of other opposition parties.
“All those people who intimidate people and threaten violence, this is a peaceful march, but we are not scared of anyone like that.
“No one is going to take away our right to protest peacefully, in a violent manner. The police do nothing because it is also captured. We don’t want that.”
Malema said supporters of President Jacob Zuma must be careful not to interfere with the protest. “Let them organise their own events if they want to. If they want to organise Zuma’s birthday, let them organise it there. Not anywhere close to where we are marching. Here (in Pretoria) we have met the requirements to be here. We are not going to be bullied by anyone, not even those in that uniform from PEP store which they wear at Luthuli House. Not that so-called Youth League will scare us. Nothing like that,” Malema charged.
“There isn’t going to be any form of intimidation here. If they come with ANC T-shirts, SA Communist Party T-shirts, Cosatu T-shirts – that would be to join this march, peacefully. They will subject to this leadership. They are not going to come and hijack things. They are behaving in a rowdy manner, like they did at Uncle Kathy’s memorial service in Durban. They won’t do it here. That I can tell you. They won’t even try.”
DA MP Phumzile van Damme said one of their members was injured during the protests on Friday, but that does not deter the opposition party.
Several opposition parties announced yesterday that another mega protest is planned for this week in Pretoria as they increase pressure on Zuma to quit. At the joint media briefing, senior officials of opposition parties pledged to march to the Union Buildings tomorrow, demanding Zuma be immediately ousted.
The opposition parties said Zuma can no longer deliver on his mandate. “From Wednesday onwards, the political parties shall embark on a programme of periodic mass action to ensure that South Africans, and their country, are protected from the brutal hand of Mr Jacob Zuma. We now announce to all South Africans, Africa and the world that we have declared April 12 a National Day of Action,” said UDM’s Bantu Holomisa.