South Africans across the country took to the streets on Wednesday to express their dissatisfaction with the administration of President Jacob Zuma, and demanding his resignation.
Thousands arrived at the Union Buildings Chanting “Zuma must fall” as they marched on.
There was heavy police presence, with people inside the Union Buildings taking pictures and videos of the crowd.
NEWS24 reported that the protesters had started gathering in front of the Art Museum from early in the morning, ahead of the march holding placards displaying their dissatisfaction with Zuma.
It quoted Anglican Bishop of Pretoria, Bishop Jo Seoka, as saying the time had come for Zuma to step down, as he was destroying the legacy of those who had died to free the country.
He said, “It’s about time he left. He is making too many blunders. He is destroying what people have stood and died for over the years.
“We need a leadership that is decisive and has a vision. We must be bold enough to say it’s enough.”
Some who could not join in the protest march took to their twitter handles, describing the protest as a time when all races come together to fight, not against each other but together in unity against bad governance.
A South African who uses the twitter handle @zede_Njongo said, “If you are focused on race then today’s March is not for you, go back home and watch it from your TV.
“For the first time in history, all races come together and fight, not against each other but together…This is UNITY.”
Another tweep, @SAMMustRise, said, “Blacks and whites United! Fantastic! Madiba wants us to bring back the rainbow nation!”
The daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on thousands of South Africans marching on Wednesday to protest against Jacob Zuma’s leadership to “send him away”.
Mpho Tutu was one of many prominent South Africans, some of them friends and allies for former president Nelson Mandela, who joined the call for the South African president to be recalled or step down.
She told journalists afterwards, her father, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu who has been outspoken in his criticism of Zuma in recent years, was “saddened” by recent events.
The protests come after a series of major corruption scandals under Zuma’s watch and days after he wiped billions of rand off the country’s stock market by swapping finance ministers twice in less than a week.