{"id":309001,"date":"2017-04-08T09:04:20","date_gmt":"2017-04-08T09:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=309001"},"modified":"2017-04-08T09:04:20","modified_gmt":"2017-04-08T09:04:20","slug":"anti-zuma-protests-take-place-across-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/04\/anti-zuma-protests-take-place-across-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-Zuma protests take place across South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"
Protesters have marched in cities across South Africa including Cape Town, Durban, and the capital, Pretoria calling for the removal of President Jacob Zuma.<\/p>\n
The demonstrations came after Mr Zuma’s sacking of a respected finance minister, which led to the country’s credit rating being cut to junk status.<\/p>\n
The move added pressure to South Africa’s already embattled economy.<\/p>\n
But supporters of Mr Zuma also turned out to defend the president.<\/p>\n
This week Mr Zuma survived calls by powerful groups allied to the governing ANC for him to go. He also got the backing of a major decision-making body within the party.<\/p>\n
He is not due to leave office until 2019 when his second five-year term comes to an end.<\/p>\n
One of the immediate sources of controversy was last week’s cabinet reshuffle which saw the removal of, among others, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.<\/p>\n
In Johannesburg, there was a heavy police presence as protesters planned to converge near the ANC headquarters.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of veterans of the ANC’s armed anti-apartheid struggle and members of the ruling party’s youth wing also gathered outside its headquarters at Luthuli House to protect the building.<\/p>\n