Jacob Zuma turns 75 on Wednesday but it is unlikely the president will have a happy birthday as the largest anti-government protests since the dawn of democracy are set to continue.
The DA, EFF, Cope, United Democratic Movement and the African Christian Democratic Party will on Wednesday embark on a mass march to the Union Buildings to protest against the current political crisis facing the country and in light of the recent cabinet reshuffle, which has seen the rand tumble and the country’s economy reduced to junk status.
The march is expected to take place on Zuma’s 75th birthday.
“We don’t care about his birthday nor do we recognise him as the leader of this country. Ours is to stand united with the people of South Africa in defending our land against corruption,” UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said.
On Friday thousands of people and civil organisations across the country organised marches calling for Zuma to resign.
Holomisa commended everyone for braving the weather and standing up for what is right.
“They did well. The intimidation by ANC members didn’t work. What we saw in the country represented a spirit of unity and tolerance in pursuit of one common goal, to save our country.”
He pointed out that the upcoming march had nothing to do with competing with civil society or chasing numbers and added that even if 50 people showed up the march would still be significant.
ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe said: “South Africans are gatvol.”
Meshoe said it might be Zuma’s birthday but through the march it would be clear to the president that people no longer cared about him.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said the march was just the beginning of bigger things to come.
“We have started a movement for change. This is the start of rolling mass action, we will continue with the same actions until the ANC comes to its senses and agrees to remove him (Zuma),” he said.
Maimane called on all members of Parliament to remember their oath of office, to respect the constitution and to put South Africa first when they voted in Parliament in two weeks’ time.
The DA Gauteng leader, John Moodey, said the march was a clear message from thousands that it was a time for the ANC to act against Zuma.
Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem said the peaceful protests were reminiscent of the 1980s where people showed a united front.
“The people of this country have come out to show that they are sick of this president who thinks he is above the law. We are encouraged to see the rainbow nation united with one voice to say enough is enough,” he said.
Calls for Zuma to step down got even louder yesterday when news filtered in that Fitch, the international ratings agency, downgraded South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to sub-investment grade, junk status.
Fitch pointed to Zuma’s decision to remove Pravin Gordhan as finance minister last week, saying it was likely to mean a change in economic policy.
“In Fitch’s view, the cabinet reshuffle, which involved the replacement of the finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, and the deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas, is likely to result in a change in the direction of economic policy.”
It suggested Gordhan may have been punished for efforts to improve the running of parastatals and said with him gone, these were now more likely to be a significant burden on the state’s balance sheet.
National Treasury acknowledged that the downgrade was a setback for the country but said the government remained committed to the fiscal policy outlined in the February budget and to improving the running of state-owned enterprises.
“We urge all South Africans to remain positive and continue to work hard in turning this economy around.”
Meanwhile, the pro-Zuma camp came out in support of the president too.
In a fake tweet, ANC presidential contender Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma referred to the Save SA protests on Friday as “rubbish”.
She was apparently responding to a Twitter conversation in which Treasury spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said the Save SA protests were well-funded.
Another person then said it’s mind-blowing how many resources their privilege afforded them.
But on Friday night Dlamini-Zuma then said the comments were made from a fake Twitter account and was being investigated.
Some members of the ANC are also looking forward to celebrating the president’s big day. Speaking at the ANC Youth League’s mini-rally in Ekurhuleni this week, ANC national working committee member and Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane said members of the ruling party in Gauteng would come out in numbers to celebrate Zuma’s birthday.
Amid calls for the ANC leader to step down, Mokonyane told the crowd that Zuma was going nowhere and would remain president until 2019.