Johannesburg - The DA is waiting for permission from police to march to the ANC's headquarters in Johannesburg, the party said on Saturday.
Democratic Alliance Gauteng leader John Moodey said he hoped the Johannesburg metro police department would give them permission to march so that they could “exercise their democratic right”.
On Wednesday, party leader Helen Zille said she would lead 6 000 of the DA's supporters in a march to Luthuli House in the Johannesburg CBD on February 4 to take the “fight for jobs” to the African National Congress.
ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu condemned the DA from marching to their premises, saying the opposition was provoking the ANC.
“What happens if our members come to protect Chief Albert Luthuli House? We should remind them what happened when they marched somewhere,” said Mthembu, referring to the 2012 incident when a DA march to Cosatu offices in Johannesburg turned violent.
Cosatu members threw stones at DA supporters as they made their way to the lawns of the Joburg (formerly the Civic) Theatre, 50m away from the trade union federation's office.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions said the DA's march was an election stunt.
“The march will achieve absolutely nothing for the young workers on whose behalf they claim to be demonstrating,” Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesman Patrick Craven said in a statement.
The ANC Youth League and the SA Communist party also condemned the DA for its decision to march saying the opposition party was attacking the ANC. - Sapa