The #ZumaMustFall movement, which gained momentum after the president fired Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene late last year, will be back in action in several major cities ahead of theState of the Nation Address (Sona) tonight.
Demonstrations will take place in Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria.
President Jacob Zuma will deliver his speech in Parliament at 7pm.
#ZumaMustFall spokesperson Neziwe Manaka believes the campaign is growing in popularity.
“We are more convinced that this is the campaign to support, whereas before there was that grey area to say is this a white capitalist movement.”
She says people are rallying behind a single cause.
“We will not wait for 2019 for him to move out of power."
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| #ZumaMustFall MARCHES TO TAKE PLACE Countrywide Today |
“The ANCYL has been very vocal to say they will disrupt the march. Hence the security and the police are very much aware and prepared to make it a point that the #ZumaMustFall campaign people are protected.
The African National Congress has dismissed the campaign, saying it can only polarise society.
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Zuma will deliver the Sona amid tight security, protests and warnings from the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) that there will be ‘interruptions’.
The Nkandla matter was in the Constitutional Court this this week after Zuma's offer to pay back a portion of the money spent to upgrade his private home was rejected by the EFF and the Democratic Alliance.
Zuma's speech on today is building up to be a second serving of the chaos that ensued last year.
There is also the potential of drama on the streets of the CBD on the day as the City of Cape Town has granted permission for at least three protest marches, including the #ZumaMustFall marches, to go ahead.
Political analyst Mzukisi Qobo said Zuma is in for a rough week.
“This is going to be a very rough week for the president and a very rough week for National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete. I think there will be protest marches as the build up to the address and on the day itself.”
In 2015, EFF Members of Parliament interrupted Zuma's speech to ask him when he would pay back a portion of the money spent onupgrading his Nkandla home.
They were then forcibly removed from the National Assembly chamber.
This year, leader Julius Malema says if Zuma doesn't explain why he fired Nene before he delivers his speech, the EFF will intervene.
“Part of what we’re doing is to speak to Zuma’s conscience, that we’re treating you like this because you’ve not respected the office of the president.”
The #ZumaMustFall movement, Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Seskhona Peoples Rights Movement will hold separate marches on the day. (Edited by Winnie Theletsane)
