Thousands of marchers have started to make their way to Parliament from Kaizergracht amid a strong police and security presence as the country braces for the latest vote on the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday afternoon.
The bulk of the marchers were made up of Democratic Alliance (DA) members with a smattering of Congress of the People (Cope) and African People’s Convention (APC) supporters. A small but vocal group of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters could be seen muscling their way through the large crowd, saying they needed to get to Parliament first.
Marchers chanted “Zuma must go” and held up various placards which said they had no more confidence in the president.
DA supporters said that Zuma should resign because he is only keeping the poor in the same situations.
Earlier, DA leader Mmusi Maimane on Tuesday called on ruling party MPs to vote according to conscience and help to remove Zuma from office in a vote of no confidence he called historic.
“Today is a historic day. South Africa faces a choice between corruption and a prosperous South Africa. As life is getting hard for our people, it is important that we put South Africans first,” Maimane said.
“Today MPs get to exercise their vote by using a secret ballot. I want to urge all ANC MPs to vote with their conscience today.
“Let us put the people of South Africa first. Let us vote to remove Jacob Zuma so that we can start moving South Africa in the right direction.”
On Monday, Speaker Baleka Mbete announced her decision to allow a secret ballot in the vote on the motion of no confidence in Zuma.