Business not quite as usual

Inside the parliamentary precinct, television crews jockeyed for position and security guards wandered about as dignitaries hoisted smartphones and tablets to capture the perfectly coiffed VIPs on show.

But as the time approached for President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation speech, more public order police were deployed to control the protesters.

Clashes erupted throughout the day as various movements took to the streets. Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement sup- porters wore T-shirts with slogans such as “DA has hatred against black people”; a DA T-shirt was burned as well. Riot police blocked Ses’khona’s path, leading to a three-hour stand-off.

The #ZumaMustFall campaign was the one that got closest to Parliament. Organisers shook hands with police, promising to abide by the law. As they marched closer to Ses’khona, the group was directed away by police, who feared clashes would erupt between the two opposing movements.

#FeesMustFall activists collided with the march, leading to fistfights and stones being hurled. Eventually calm prevailed.

Ses’khona supporters ardently defended Zuma, hoisting a banner that declared: “President Zuma, the people’s choice”, which opposed #FeesMustFall’s objective of “No education, no vote”. Some Ses’khona protesters, seeing a gap in the police blockade, managed to speed through and dance in the streets leading to Parliament. —