Masses rise up
President Jacob Zuma was yesterday in Pretoria presented with tens of thousands of marchers calling for his head on his 75th birthday.
EFF leader Julius Malema says president will go, ‘whether he likes it or not’.
South African opposition parties must build on the success of yesterday’s National Day of Action protest and sync their efforts to oust President Jacob Zuma, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told tens of thousands of supporters.
“Ours is the interest of South Africa, and not petty politics. When the State of South Africa is threatened, we put aside our differences. We unite for the purpose of winning back our beautiful country. We must salute these leaders [of different opposition parties],” Malema said as he addressed activists protesting against Zuma at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
“When we are united, we will never have an illiterate president. Zuma is going to leave office, whether he likes it or not.
“This office belongs to the people of South Africa. This office doesn’t belong to a clan of Nxamalala. This is not Nkandla compound.”
Tearing further into Zuma, Malema said the president was not good enough for the job.
“The only job he can do better is to look after cattle. He doesn’t belong here. We do not have any memorandum [to hand over to the presidency] because he who occupies this office cannot read.
“So, it will be a waste of time to present a memorandum to an illiterate someone who doesn’t have a relationship with books. The man hates books and, therefore, our memorandum will not be read by this clown occupying these offices,” said Malema.
Malema said the protest was not a once-off event.
“This is rolling mass action. We are coming to Free State, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo.
“We are going to all big cities in South Africa. We are going to KwaZulu-Natal, because everyone in South Africa is tired of Zuma. We do not want to leave any space unoccupied,” said Malema.
“We are taking government in 2019. At that time, bread is going to be R80 and you are going to blame us because of problems created by this man.
“So, we must prevent it now before it becomes a nightmare for everyone. So this [protest] is not just a useless exercise. You have sent a strong message.”
Earlier, DA national spokesperson Phumzile van Damme said opposition parties had resolved to put their differences aside for the sake of South Africa.
“We are really honoured to be here today with other opposition parties. We have all put our differences aside because we all care about the future of South Africa,” she said.
African People’s Convention leader Themba Godi said the thousands of people were at the march because they were fed up with Zuma’s rule.
“We are here to say enough is enough. There must be change in the interest of the African people,” said Godi. – ANA