Johannesburg - Activists gathered at a rally organised by civil society organisations in Joburg have spoken out on State Capture and why President Jacob Zuma has to vacate office.
At the gathering held at the City of Joburg Hall hours before the motion of no confidence debate was scheduled to take place in Parliament, activists from Africa Rising, Batho Pele, Save SA, Business Leadership South Africa and the South African Federation of Trade Unions held placards reading Jacob Zuma Must Go.
Lukhanya Dabula from Batho Pele says speaks on plight of today's youth. #FutureSA #NoConfidence #zumavote @IOL @IOLPolitics
— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) August 8, 2017
In his address to those gathered, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation board deputy chairman and former Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Komfe said the reason they were gathered was to demand Members of Parliament to do the right thing.
"We are here to demand that our MPs vote Zuma out of office," he said.
Komfe also pointed that regardless of the result, those voting and society as a whole had to send out a strong message to say that State Capture would not be tolerated.
Nkomfe: No matter the outcome, people must send a strong msg to Parliament that capture of our State will not be tolerated #ZumaVote @IOL
— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) August 8, 2017
While some questioned whether they were correct in voting the ANC into power in 1994, Cas Coovadia, managing director of the Banking Association South Africa said those in power had to be held accountable.
Representing the Batho Pele organisation, Lukhanyo Dabula said State Capture had deferred the attention of authorities away from the challenges faced by the country's youth.
#FutureSA rally at Jhb City Hall #zumavote #NoConfidence #Zuma @IOL @IOLPolitics pic.twitter.com/ALz72QB1nm
— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) August 8, 2017
"State capture has created a distraction of plight faced by young people such as drugs.. more so the focus is now on one man," he said referring to Zuma.
Meanwhile, BLSA CEO Bonang Mohale lamented the time wasted in ensuring that business was transformed saying had attention been placed on the importance of changing the norm at the dawn of democracy, the country would not find itself where it is today.
#FutureSA rally at Jhb City Hall #zumavote #NoConfidence #Zuma @IOL @IOLPolitics pic.twitter.com/ALz72QB1nm
— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) August 8, 2017
He said to counter the mistakes of the past, there would be a new launch of BLSA in Alex.