Johannesburg - The organisers of the #ZumaMustFall movement said they were pleased at the outcome of the marches on Reconciliation Day this week, but said that it was just the beginning of a push for change.
Wednesday’s Reconciliation Day #ZumaMustFall marches in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town saw thousands of South Africans congregate to call on President Jacob Zuma to step down.
#ZumaMustFall organising committee member Marian Geddes said on Thursday that the march “was a triumph in our first steps in bringing integrity and honour back into the highest office”.
According to initial estimates, about 6 000 people marched in Cape Town, while just under 5 000 people marched in Johannesburg, and Pretoria had a “strong following”.
Zuma’s firing of respected finance minister Nhlanhla Nene last week and the appointment to the portfolio of the little-known David van Rooyen triggered a wave of public outrage and criticism which eventually saw Zuma backtrack and re-appoint former finance minister Pravin Gordhan to the finance ministry in a bid to calm the waters. But not before the markets were thrown into turmoil and the rand lost significant value.
“It is an economic catastrophe,” said Geddes, adding that investors were already pulling out “at an alarming rate”.
South Africa’s dismal economic growth, she said, was one of the reasons “investors are not putting their faith in our economy due to failed political leadership and policy uncertainty”.
Geddes said the country had reached a “tipping point” and that ordinary South Africans were ready to see change happen.
She said the ruling African National Congress’s (ANC) voice, “a once honourable and mighty defender of the people’s political party” was one that people no longer took heed of because of empty promises, rife corruption and “announcements and justifications for their actions”.
The #ZumaMustFall organisation and the Unite Against Corruption organisation which mobilised the Reconciliation Day marches had worked smoothly together once they had “navigated through the confusion that comes with amalgamating a movement at such short notice”.
“They did a tremendous job and we have deep respect for their achievements.”
ANA
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