DA Gauteng leader John Moodey has laid criminal charges against the ANC for incitement to violence. This follows an ANC Youth League (ANCYL) rally in Germiston at which ANC national executive committee member, Nomvula Mokonyane, reportedly called on members to defend Luthuli House from the DA, which was planning to march to the party’s Johannesburg headquarters on Friday.
The opposition party, like many civil society groups and some political parties, is calling for President Jacob Zuma to step down.
An ANCYL Gauteng leader reportedly told the rally that they would be ready with sjamboks. The DA was initially going to march to Luthuli House but has changed its plan and is now to march to Mary Fitzgerald Square. "The DA will not be intimidated by this kind of war talk, but the rule of law must prevail, and incitement to violence must be investigated criminally," Moodey said.
On Wednesday, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, said the party did not support any member who believes they have a right to sjambok marchers. However, she described the march by the DA as "provocative" and said she hoped that no one from the ANC, or pretending that they were, would sjambok people.
On a number of other marches organised for Friday calling on Zuma to step down, Duarte said: "People have a right to march and should if they wish."
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