Group called protesters ‘counter revolutionaries’

Save SA supporters camped out at Church Square in Pretoria in protest against President Jacob Zuma were allegedly threatened by a group of “thugs” who burnt their banners‚ vowing to “defend Zuma” yesterday evening.

Protesters had gathered there in a tent as part of several planned protests against Zuma and his controversial cabinet reshuffle that was followed by a credit ratings agency downgrade of the country’s economy and saw the rand tumble.

Save SA activist Themba Masango said that “thugs” had arrived and made threatening remarks.

“We’ve just had an incident right now where a few thugs‚ for a lack of a better word‚ came through here‚ ripped off banners … and took them and burnt them‚” Masango said.

“They specifically said we should leave Church Square and that they are going to burn this tent down tonight.

“They are saying they are going to defend Zuma.

Save SA spokesman Mark Heywood said a “group of about 10‚ maybe 15 people who identified with the ANC, arrived at the edge of the tent and began threatening violence against the people inside the tent”.

The group called the protesters counter revolutionaries. “We responded peacefully‚” he said.

Heywood said the group also broke a tent.

“What I want to say about this‚ is that we have photographs of these people. One is an ANC councillor‚ we are told,” he said. “One is an ANCYL leader in the Pretoria area. We will lay charges against these people and we won’t be intimidated. This is our democratic right.”

ANC Tshwane spokesman Tebogo Joala said the thugs were not from their region.

“I did send some comrades to check but nobody knows them, ,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tshwane metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said Save SA has until 10am today to submit all the required documents to be granted permission for tomorrow’s march.

According to Mahamba, metro police met the organisers of the march yesterday and a decision on whether the march will proceed will depend on outstanding documents have been submitted. –