Former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan addressed a politically-charged memorial service for fallen anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada at St George’s Cathedral yesterday.
But it was SA Communist Party Deputy General Secretary Jeremy Cronin who fired up the crowd of hundreds inside and outside the packed church in Wale Street.
The service was attended by activists and religious leaders, who all called for President Jacob Zuma to step down.
Notably absent were next-door neighbour in the provincial legislature, Western Cape Premier Helen Zille, and Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille.
A fired-up Cronin called for the immediate implementation of the recommendation by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela for a judicial commission of inquiry into all dealings between public entities and companies owned by Zuma’s friends, the Gupta family.
“We call for the revoking of citizenship and revoking of residential rights of Guptas,” he said, to loud applause.
“We call for lifestyle audits for all ministers, all deputy ministers and for board members of state-owned companies.”
Cronin says the SACP would stand its ground when it meets with the ruling African National Congress top six.
He says Uncle Kathy asked Zuma to resign because he was deeply concerned for the well-being of the country.
“We align ourselves with Uncle Kathy and call on President Zuma to step down and end the Guptarisation of our beloved ANC.”
Later, a more subdued Gordhan said: “We have handed the state over to a bunch of gangsters.”
This was shortly after he said that honest people are being criminalised and are refusing to work in public service.
“We would not have the downgrade if we just behaved ourselves,” he told the supportive crowd, after he assured the citizens that South Africa would overcome difficulties of the downgrade.
Gordhan said he was still a member of the ANC, but the ANC of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Kathrada.
He said it would take another 30 years before we had the South Africa we wanted, but that people must never lose hope, just like Uncle Kathy remained positive and hopeful during his 26 years in jail.
Nokuthulu Ndaba of the ANC Western Cape tried to defend the ANC, but was booed off stage.
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town has approved protests taking place today, including human chains along Main Road in Simon's Town, Voortrekker Road in Bellville, West Coast Road into Marine Parade Drive and along Jakes Gerwel Drive and Klipfontein Road.
At noon, there will be a mass protest march from Keizergracht Street to Parliament.