Photo: The #OccupyLuthuliHouse group sang songs against the president but were far outnumbered by ANC supporters who came to defend Luthuli House and President Jacob Zuma and the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association.
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Tha plan has been scrapped and reports say they’re simply going to be handing over a memorandum of grievances to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.
Earlier‚ the Youth League’s president‚ Collen Maine‚ said disciplinary action would be taken against league members who were protesting against President Jacob Zuma.
Former Youth League deputy president Ronald Lamola has likened the heavy police presence outside ANC headquarters in response to the #OccupyLuthuliHouse protest to events that lead up to the Marikana killings in 2012.
They also lashed out at former National Press Club chair Jose Charle, whom they claimed was anti-revolutionary for assisting people who did not belong to their movement to bring the ANC to its knees.
A placard by rival Zuma supporters read: “Don’t try this at Luthuli House”. “Even if they come, the only thing we are going to do is not allow them to occupy Luthuli House – peacefully so”, ME said. “That’s why today Jacob Zuma is still the president”, Manganye told the Mail & Guardian.
The #OccupyLuthuliHouse protesters said that among their demands was that Zuma should step down as ANC leader and as state president.
But Mantashe insisted on doing so and tried to dissuade the aggressive veterans’ members from attacking the protesters.
“Don’t do something that will give them publicity”, said Mantashe.
Apparently, the police have proposed that ANC Secretary General rather comes out of Luthuli House and receive a memorandum from the Occupy Luthuli House movement on the street.
Earlier, Sasabona Manganye, of #OccupyLuthuliHouse, said apart from the disappointing election results, the “current ANC” was not what it was supposed to be.
The NEC has been visiting different regions since the party’s poor showing in the local government elections, seeking answers for its dismal performance.
“However given the potential severity of violent threats, we want to appeal to the multitudes of people who confirmed that they will join us this morning not to come”.
Zuma, 74, who was jailed on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela during apartheid, retains strong loyalty within the ANC especially in rural areas, but he could step down before the next presidential election in 2019.
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“They have the right to demonstrate, but they only spread rumours”.
