Suburban Johannesburgers picket for President Zuma to go

Residents across Johannesburg have crept out of bed on a rainy Friday morning with a strong message for President Jacob Zuma — it’s time for him to go.

In the north of Johannesburg‚ neighbourhood groups stood on pavements along key routes holding placards‚ their clenched fists raised‚ as passing motorists hooted in support of their cause.

Some placards read: “Zuma get OUTA here‚” and “Our country and our souls are not for sale! ANC you sold out SA. ANC = GNC. Gupta National Congress“.

In suburban Blairgowrie‚ protesters lined a busy Conrad Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue. For many of the neighbourhood’s residents the local demonstration is just the beginning of a long day of marches.

“This is an important moment. The values on which we found our democracy can be reasserted and reclaimed. From here I’m going to Pretoria‚” said resident Feizel Mamdoo.

“We need to protect our democracy. One of the ways we can do this is to get Zuma to resign. Zuma needs to stop corrupting our democratic state.”

Blairgowrie residents have organised food parcels for those that will gather in Pretoria’s Church Square to occupy Treasury‚ Mamdoo said.

“This was organised spontaneously by residents and it’s just grown. It’s not only about the big national marches but also the little ones that show the overwhelming sentiment that Zuma must go.”

West Rand business owner Shelley Marsh has closed her mentoring consultancy to allow staff to hit the streets.

“Zuma has been taking control of this country year by year. We’ve been asking for him to resign for about six years and the time has come. He’s captured the Treasury now so it’s a downhill slide. My business will suffer‚ everyone’s businesses will suffer. He needs to see that everyone is standing together. It’s not black‚ it’s not white‚” she said.

For Mamdoo claims that Friday’s marches are for the middle class are simply attempts to distract from the issues at stake.

“There are all kinds of narratives to undermine this cause‚ but the support overall is there.”

Two 14-year-olds held up placards for Zuma to resign but admitted they were just there because their parents dragged them along. When asked what the march was about one said‚ “I have no idea‚” while the other said‚ “Someone got fired and Jacob Zuma is stealing all the money“.