Cape Town -*The ANC has said it will rule until Jesus comes, but for a large part of the #Zumamustfall march in Cape Town it seemed Jesus should come sooner to get President Jacob Zuma to resign.
Following the success of last year's #Zumamustfall march, which many derided for being a long walk to a picnic, around 2000 people marched through the city's CBD on Freedom day to call for the president to either resign or be recalled by the African National Congress.
The front ranks were filled with people carrying posters saying "SA needs Jesus", a banner saying "The blood of the Lamb" and "All things rise and fall on leaders" while they sang Christian worship songs arranged to Soca music.
The rear guard was more direct, chanting "Zuma must fall" and carrying posters with that call printed in huge letters. Another read, "To our ANC leaders: There comes a time when inaction makes you guilty - that time is now! Please recall Mr Jacob Zuma" while another was more brief: "Zoom Zoom must go".
One poster had pictures of Zuma with tattoos on his face and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa superimposed on an arrest mug shot.
Dogs accompanied humans on the march with a small Yorkshire terrier pitter-pattering along with a sign on his back saying, "Zuma Must Fall Woof Woof!!"
They walked down Darling Street and up Adderley Street, led by the band, Africam, on the back of a truck, alternating *between religious songs and a song about freedom that the band had had taught the group before they set off.
"Down with corruption," they chanted as they rounded the corner to Parliament where a phalanx of public order policing officers in riot gear waited for them at the gate.
A smattering of t-shirts from most of the country's political parties was evident, including at least one ANC t-shirt and an Economic Freedom Fighters beret, but there was no party talk.
An Azanian People's Organisation banner was also carried along in the crowd.
The African Christian Democratic Party's Steve Swart and Congress of the People's Deidre Carter were among the political celebrities present, and United Democratic Movement supporters showed up with posters of their president Bantu Holomisa.
Speeches
Richard Verreynne, chairperson of the Evangelical Alliance of SA, started the speeches outside Parliament by running through complaints about Zuma - from the recent Constitutional Court finding, to the high unemployment rate in the country.
"He is a president of impunity," he said to cheers. "We have become a country in permanent crisis."
Another supporter of the call, Brutus Malada, said, "Stand up and protect the future of this country. If this government, if this ANC, cannot act against Jacob Zuma today, you must be worried as South Africans."
Gloria Veale-Oliver, who said she had been an anti-apartheid activist, whipped the crowd up into an evangelical frenzy with shouts of "When we rebel against good, we rebel against God".
"We have hardened our hearts and that is why we are in the state we are in today. Zuma is but one of the problems we have today," she said to nods of agreement and "amens".
"It's time to arise to the light. It is time that we understand that we are fighting a spiritual war," she said, as the outer fringes chatted.
One man, who would only be identified as Vincent, said he was not happy with the focus on Christianity. "What about the Muslim people who want Zuma to go? I don't think this is right."
The gathering was rounded off with a rap song by Khayelitsha artist Sizwe Nguqe about a father who neglects his children.
People were presented with green ribbons and asked to put them somewhere visible as a symbol of their call for Zuma to be removed.
In Johannesburg
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg more than 100 people gathered outside the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Freedom Day to participate in a march organised by various organisations.
They included the Right2Know, People's Assembly, EFF, AZAPO, PAC and the Marikana Support Campaign.
Right2Know's Godfrey Phiri told marchers they were a South Africa against corruption and looting.
"Enough is enough. We need to build a proper democratic South Africa. We should stop politicians from calling people white and black. We are not laundry. We are human beings," he said.
News24
Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/marchers-demand-that-zuma-fall-20160427
Following the success of last year's #Zumamustfall march, which many derided for being a long walk to a picnic, around 2000 people marched through the city's CBD on Freedom day to call for the president to either resign or be recalled by the African National Congress.
The front ranks were filled with people carrying posters saying "SA needs Jesus", a banner saying "The blood of the Lamb" and "All things rise and fall on leaders" while they sang Christian worship songs arranged to Soca music.
The rear guard was more direct, chanting "Zuma must fall" and carrying posters with that call printed in huge letters. Another read, "To our ANC leaders: There comes a time when inaction makes you guilty - that time is now! Please recall Mr Jacob Zuma" while another was more brief: "Zoom Zoom must go".
One poster had pictures of Zuma with tattoos on his face and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa superimposed on an arrest mug shot.
Dogs accompanied humans on the march with a small Yorkshire terrier pitter-pattering along with a sign on his back saying, "Zuma Must Fall Woof Woof!!"
They walked down Darling Street and up Adderley Street, led by the band, Africam, on the back of a truck, alternating *between religious songs and a song about freedom that the band had had taught the group before they set off.
"Down with corruption," they chanted as they rounded the corner to Parliament where a phalanx of public order policing officers in riot gear waited for them at the gate.
A smattering of t-shirts from most of the country's political parties was evident, including at least one ANC t-shirt and an Economic Freedom Fighters beret, but there was no party talk.
An Azanian People's Organisation banner was also carried along in the crowd.
The African Christian Democratic Party's Steve Swart and Congress of the People's Deidre Carter were among the political celebrities present, and United Democratic Movement supporters showed up with posters of their president Bantu Holomisa.
Speeches
Richard Verreynne, chairperson of the Evangelical Alliance of SA, started the speeches outside Parliament by running through complaints about Zuma - from the recent Constitutional Court finding, to the high unemployment rate in the country.
"He is a president of impunity," he said to cheers. "We have become a country in permanent crisis."
Another supporter of the call, Brutus Malada, said, "Stand up and protect the future of this country. If this government, if this ANC, cannot act against Jacob Zuma today, you must be worried as South Africans."
Gloria Veale-Oliver, who said she had been an anti-apartheid activist, whipped the crowd up into an evangelical frenzy with shouts of "When we rebel against good, we rebel against God".
"We have hardened our hearts and that is why we are in the state we are in today. Zuma is but one of the problems we have today," she said to nods of agreement and "amens".
"It's time to arise to the light. It is time that we understand that we are fighting a spiritual war," she said, as the outer fringes chatted.
One man, who would only be identified as Vincent, said he was not happy with the focus on Christianity. "What about the Muslim people who want Zuma to go? I don't think this is right."
The gathering was rounded off with a rap song by Khayelitsha artist Sizwe Nguqe about a father who neglects his children.
People were presented with green ribbons and asked to put them somewhere visible as a symbol of their call for Zuma to be removed.
In Johannesburg
Meanwhile, in Johannesburg more than 100 people gathered outside the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Freedom Day to participate in a march organised by various organisations.
They included the Right2Know, People's Assembly, EFF, AZAPO, PAC and the Marikana Support Campaign.
Right2Know's Godfrey Phiri told marchers they were a South Africa against corruption and looting.
"Enough is enough. We need to build a proper democratic South Africa. We should stop politicians from calling people white and black. We are not laundry. We are human beings," he said.
News24
Link: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/marchers-demand-that-zuma-fall-20160427
