Different civic rights groups have announced the #CyrilMustFall protests which are set to hit the streets of Pretoria on the International Nelson Mandela Day, on Friday.

Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress told reporters in Midrand that marchers will walk from Marabastad to the Union Buildings, demanding an immediate resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“This initiative of this march is an initiative of Defend SA but it is a march supported by UCM, which stands for United Civics Movement, an umbrella federation for civic movements. My organisation Progressive Civics Congress is part of UCM. We are making this announcement on behalf of Defend SA and UCM,” he said.

On Friday (today) the symbolic Nelson Mandela Day, thousands of determined South Africans from across all provinces will gather in Pretoria for the #CyrilMustFall march to the Union Buildings. This national protest is a bold declaration by the people against the ongoing decay of leadership, governance and accountability under President Cyril Ramaphosa.” 

“Cyril Ramaphosa’s rise to the Union Buildings has been characterised by corruption, from the very beginning, starting with his irregular election as ANC president at the Nasrec conference in 2017. The process was bankrolled by the controversial CR17 campaign fund, the details of which remain sealed and hidden from public scrutiny,” he said.

Luthuli said while at the helm of South Africa, Ramaphosa has failed to account for the Phala Phala scandal.

He insisted that South Africa is in crisis mode, with unemployment at an all-time high. 

“Illegal immigration is out of control, and service delivery has collapsed. The recent explosive revelations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi  have only confirmed what South Africans already know, that this administration is corrupt to the core and that our institutions have been captured by political and private business interests at the expense of public safety, justice and national pride.

He said the protesters will be demanding an “immediate resignation” from Ramaphosa, and firing and prosecution of corrupt police officers and politicians.

On Wednesday, IOL reported that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has formally delivered a letter of demand to President Ramaphosa, calling on him to resign from office by 9am on Friday.

In the letter seen by IOL, among other things, the MK party tells Ramaphosa that the decision to appoint Professor Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police is in contravention of the Constitution, because the academic is not a member of Cabinet or the National Assembly.

MK party national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said Ramaphosa must resign in honour of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding commander-in-chief of uMkhonto weSizwe – the military wing.

“Should Ramaphosa fail to heed this call, the MK party will pursue a range of lawful and peaceful actions, including constitutional litigation, a motion of no confidence in Parliament and rolling mass action nationwide,” said Ndlela.

“These steps reflect the will of the people, who, through democratic means, delivered a decisive electoral verdict against the African National Congress under Ramaphosa’s leadership.”

He said, despite the “clear message” from the electorate, the will of the people has been undermined by opportunistic political alliances.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

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