14:15 PM
“It has started now, it’s on,†says Malema at the end of his speech.
“When you leave here, go back home peacefully in a disciplined manner, mobilise, go back into communities, you must have small demonstrations in your own communities, you must demand that Zuma must go … You must go and stand on bridges even if you are four, even if you are five [protesters], you must hold a placard [saying] Zuma must go.”
Even though the official programme was not quite over, protesters immediately started to leave the Union Building lawns.
Guess it’s over. That was anticlimactic.
We’ll keep you posted if anything changes.
XOXO
The Daily Vox Team
14:00 PM
EFF leader Julius Malema took the opportunity to needle Zuma, saying Zuma should “go back to the villageâ€.
“It would be a waste of time to present a memorandum to an illiterate someone who doesn’t have a relationship with books and therefore a memorandum will not be read by this clown occupying this office. We don’t want to waste anyone’s time and we don’t want to waste paper and ink because this man will never read anything from us.â€
As for plans after this march is done? “This is a rolling mass action,†Malema said, adding that the protests would be going to every province.
13:45 PM
Notably absent from the podium is DA leader Mmusi Maimane. Instead, spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme led the crowd in a rendition of “Unity’s the power”.
Mmusi must tell us why as leader of the opposition, he was not at today’s march #OppositionMarch. I find it rather odd.
— Laila Majiet (@laila_newsie) April 12, 2017
13:30 PM
The crowd outside the Union Buildings is huge! Reporters are estimating the size of the crowd to be around 100 – 120 000.
The view from the stage. #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/3CP56gJV9W
— IG: richpoplak (@Poplak) April 12, 2017
Crowd figure now pegged at 120,000 #NationalDayofAction
— Ranjeni Munusamy (@RanjeniM) April 12, 2017
This is yet to be confirmed though.
13:00 PM
EFF members addressing the crowd. If our political stance was based on singing ability, The People’s Bae – the EFF’s Mbuyiseni Ndlozi – has our vote!
Comrade bae singing, for your your viewing pleasure 😉 #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/pq6jds2wCX
— Rumana Akoob (@RumanaAkoob) April 12, 2017
“Zuma must goooooo” for who? The EFF’s advocate Dali Mpofu has some new lyrics for marchers to sing.
A new song for this occasion by @AdvDali_Mpofu “Unity’s the power” #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/QuZAOrpW6w
— Rumana Akoob (@RumanaAkoob) April 12, 2017
12:45
This protest is looking pretty festive. Good thing the weather held.
Thousands here at the lawns of the Union Buildings. #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/wsx42s5RV9
— Rumana Akoob (@RumanaAkoob) April 12, 2017
EFF leader Julius Malema has called the crowd closer to “give Zuma a birthday present”. He’s in high spirits today – probably because the crowd is mostly red.
Malema getting the crowd ready. #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/7uKn3Gssxr
— Rumana Akoob (@RumanaAkoob) April 12, 2017
12:35
You have to admit, this picture of the opposition party leaders at the front of the march in their multicoloured t-shirts, is kind of cool.
Multiparty democracy – A seminal moment in South Africa #NationalDayOfAction #SABCNews @SAfmRadio pic.twitter.com/38ywJ3atMR
— Ashraf Garda (@AshrafGarda) April 12, 2017
Overheard in the newsroom: Look at the shoes Terror has on, no wonder he’s tired.
Also, check out Malema’s matching kicks. 😂
12:30 PM
Protestors have reached the Union Building. Barbed wire has been deployed to keep protesters at a distance.
Union Buildings being protected by barbed wire #nationaldayofaction pic.twitter.com/PIi9slc1mY
— Rumana Akoob (@RumanaAkoob) April 12, 2017
Some are now estimating the size of crowd at about 30,000 people.
Conservatively, I’d say there are 30,000 people ahead of me on Madiba Street. #OppositionMarch pic.twitter.com/4KFPA1G9uX
— IG: richpoplak (@Poplak) April 12, 2017
12:15 PM
The march is underway and protestors are chanting “Zuma Must Go” as they walk. Butternuts and coffins for Zuma are par for the course, here.
Butternuts and coffins mark the crowd as #OppositionMarch makes its way to Union Buildings for #NationalDayofAction. pic.twitter.com/G4iW3yKilZ
— The Daily VOX (@thedailyvox) April 12, 2017
12PM
The march towards the Union Buildings has officially started.
Our reporter @RumanaAkoob with #OppositionMarch in Pretoria. If you weren’t able to make it, live vicariously through her updates pic.twitter.com/sKGel83Qca
— The Daily VOX (@thedailyvox) April 12, 2017
Pretoria is a sea of red, blue and green as opposition party leaders march arm in arm towards the Union Buildings. They plan to hand over a memorandum once they arrive.
Police are keeping a close eye on the marchers, and say they are expecting 10 000 people to take part. But, knowing the EFF and the numbers they can pull, we expect it to be much bigger.
#NationalDayofAction Police keeping a watchful eye pic.twitter.com/L1YIbadAqO
— Anton Meijer (@antonnies) April 12, 2017
9AM
Thousands of South Africans are gathering on Wednesday morning in Pretoria calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down.
Zuma sparked public ire late last month when he sacked Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and reshuffled the cabinet, sparking a credit downgrade to junk status.
This comes after movements around the country last week called for #ZumaMustFall.
Wednesday’s march, which is being led by the EFF, also includes opposition parties Agang, ACDP, Congress of the People (COPE), the DA, IFP and UDM, as well as NGOs and religious groups. All this, while Zuma will be attending his birthday rally at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown.
On our way to Church Square to meet other parties #NationalDayofAction @Our_DA pic.twitter.com/T2Th54zhwB https://t.co/cozN2qtalA
— Bernard Sithole (@BenySimo) April 12, 2017
Protesters started gathering at Church Square in Pretoria early on Wednesday. A march to the Union Buildings is set to begin at midday.
#NationalDayOfAction: Despite the dreary weather, @EFFSouthAfrica supporters are ready to converge on the Union Buildings. pic.twitter.com/qX7mHjxAxV
— Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) April 12, 2017
Chants of “Zuma Must Go” could be heard early on, around the square.
Zuma must go – People chant at Church Square. #NationalDayofAction pic.twitter.com/dD0NK359mJ
— Bafana Nzimande (@nzimandebafana) April 12, 2017
Follow the Daily Vox team @thedailyvox on Twitter or come back to this post for updates throughout the day.