Supporters of the opposition party Democratic Alliance gather in protest against South African President Jacob Zuma in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 7, 2017. South Africans on Friday marched across the country calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down while his supporters also marched in solidarity with him. (Xinhua/Yeshiel Panchia)
PRETORIA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- South Africans on Friday marched across the country calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down while his supporters also marched in solidarity with him.
The demonstration came after President Jacob Zuma reshuffled the cabinet and rating agencies S&P and Fitch respectively downgraded the country's foreign currency sovereign credit rating.
Those marching accused Zuma for all these including the fall in the rand against the major currencies. They marched in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and other parts of the country calling for Zuma to step down.
Some were standing in malls and bridges with placards. Xinhua attended the march in Pretoria to the State House which was attended by over 20,000 people.
A coalition of civil society and political parties marched in the Pretoria to the State House (Union Buildings) under the banner of Save South Africa.
Zwelinzima Vavi, South African Federation of Trade Union leader also addressed the crowd and called for Zuma's ouster. Vavi said it was a mistake to put Zuma in power and called on South Africans to join in efforts to remove him.
The opposition party Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane addressed the crowd saying, "We are embarking on a movement for change which seeks to create opportunities for all and build a prosperous and diverse nation...this country needs a leader that is going to put the people first and not themselves."
Some also protested outside the house owned by the rich Indian family Guptas. The Guptas are accused of telling the president what to do.
Meanwhile, the African National Congress'(ANC) armed wing during the liberation struggle Umkhonto WeSizwe gathered outside the party headquarters Luthuli House saying they want to defend it. They were also joined by the ANC supporters, who carried placards written with "leave Zuma alone".
