South Africa: Opposition marks Zuma's birthday with protest

Several thousand people gathered in South Africa’s capital Pretoria on Wednesday to mark president Jacob Zuma’s 75th birthday with a protest following a much-criticised cabinet reshuffle. This comes days after the opposition called countrywide marches to demand his resignation.

The protesters march through the city’s streets to hold a rally at a field outside the Union Buildings, the site of Zuma’s offices.
More than 60,000 people marched on Friday calling for Zuma to quit office.

Addressing the crowds outside the Union Buildings, the ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, responded to the accusations saying, “If not wanting Zuma is racism then we are racists.”

(President Jacob) Zuma wants to rule this country like all these African countries and this not that kind of country, this one. This is a democratic country, we can’t be ruled by a dictator president,” said an EFE supporter, Wonderboy Nkosi.

“I’m sick and tired of (President) Jacob Zuma. You know, we’re all from ANC (African National Congress political party) but you know what, we are sick and tired for this Zuma,” said a protes-ter, sakhi Khayi.

The ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters and other smaller parties are also taking part in the protest dubbed “National Day of Action.

Nidume ngani? We give you the national day of protest dance off ?. https://t.co/vqFTmv0o63

— HuffPost SouthAfrica (@HuffPostSA) April 12, 2017

The ruling African National Congress party, which has a majority in parliament, has rejected calls for Zuma to step down and said it will vote against the no-confidence motion on April 18.

Zuma has denied repeated allegations of corruption since winning power in 2009, and survived four previous no-confidence votes in parliament.