As different political leaders address the crowd, they shout: "Zuma must go." #NationalDayofAction @News24 pic.twitter.com/Ote3n6iwda
— Iavan Pijoos (@Iavan13) April 12, 2017
By 5am, the small group was singing and dancing around the Square – adjacent to National Treasury. A truck loaded with a huge public address system was playing loud music at the scene.
Food vendors had descended on the area, setting up stalls ahead of the multi-party protest. Some were selling EFF regalia.
Hawker, Thomas Mabena was hoping that the National Day of Action would bring him good fortune.
“I support Juju [Julius Malema] through and through. There is no alternative to him. So today I am here to protest, but my family also has to eat. We all go home happy,” said the father of five.
Numerous police vehicles, including Nyalas were also at the Square.
On Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema warned pro-Zuma activists not to attempt disrupting the mega protest, incorporating numerous opposition political parties.
“All those people who intimidate people and threaten violence, this is a peaceful march, but we are not scared of anyone like that. No one is going to take away our right to protest peacefully, in a violent manner. The SA Police Service does nothing because it is also captured. We don’t want that,” Malema addressed journalists, flanked by top officials of other opposition parties.
Malema said supporters of President Jacob Zuma, whose 75th birthday coincides with the march, must be careful not to interfere with the protest.
The protest on Wednesday, incorporating parties including EFF, Democratic Alliance, United Democratic Movement, Themba Godi’s African People’s Convention, Congress of the People coincided with President Jacob Zuma’s 75th birthday.