JOHANNESBURG: Members of the African National Congress raised slogans outside the party headquarters, asking President Jacob Zuma step down. Demonstrators argued that Zuma is the reason the ANC lost control of three major urban centres in local elections last month, and the economy hangs on the edge of recession.
Even with the crowd numbered less than 100, the political tension was at its peak in the country. Some of the protesters carried placards reading, 'Resign with immediate effect: ANC NEC and Jacob Zuma', and 'Don't try this at Luthuli House'. Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said, "There was a big hullabaloo in the media that there was going to be a big movement to occupy Luthuli House. There is not such a movement. It's a grouping-small." He was given a list of grievances by the protesters.
Although the ANC won the most votes overall in the Aug 3 local polls, its reputation was badly bruised by its loss of support mainly in major cities. Analysts said more internal squabbles were likely following the election losses, but would only bring change if they were led by senior party figures. "An effective way would be to have big heavyweights in the ANC who say that we want the leadership to step down and we are organising a march," said Prince Mashele, head of the Centre for Politics and Research, a Pretoria-based think-tank.
