SA Public Warned to Stay Away from Occupy Luthuli House Protest
JOHANNESBURG – Supporters of the #OccupyLuthuliHouse protest, which was to go ahead this morning albeit scaled down, have been urged to stay away as fears mounted this morning that it could lead to bloodshed like Marikana. According to witnesses, the entire precinct of the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, was on virtual lockdown Monday morning with a huge police presence […]
JOHANNESBURG – Supporters of the #OccupyLuthuliHouse protest, which was to go ahead this morning albeit scaled down, have been urged to stay away as fears mounted this morning that it could lead to bloodshed like Marikana. According to witnesses, the entire precinct of the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, was on virtual lockdown Monday morning with a huge police presence and a large amount of barbed wire trucked in.
The #OccupyLuthuliHouse campaign, by a group of ANC members, is calling for the recall of President Jacob Zuma and the resignation of the National Executive Committee (NEC), amongst other things. The organisers have said they’re willing “to die to save the ANC”, but this morning urged members to stay away from the protest.
“We do not want casualities outside Luthuli House” said organiser Gugu Ndima.
“We are being threatened by police and state machinery; and warned members early this morning to stay away!”
Ndima said this did not indicate a failure, and that the group’s list of demands will still be handed over “but we do not want lives lost”.
On Sunday the group had confirmed the protest would go ahead despite threats. Talking about the “deteriorating” ANC, the group said it was “decisively ready to change this trajectory” and that “millions of South Africans saw how abnormal we have become”. The members said they were “resolute that we stand with the ANC; we are children of the ANC”.
Inside Luthuli House today, the ANC Youth League is expected to also put pressure on the ANC party to hold an early national elective conference.
https://twitter.com/CdeJMN/status/772677002222592000
#OccupyLuthuliHouse barbed wire? I hope this doesn't turn bad. This is very excessive pic.twitter.com/dGTxJyN1BT
— The Waveman ✊🏾 (@caseywaves) September 5, 2016
ANC HQ literally ringed by MK vets, along with JMPD, SAPS and pres security cops #OccupyLuthuliHouse @TheStar_news pic.twitter.com/U6pfqzFupg
— Kevin Ritchie (@RitchKev) September 5, 2016
https://twitter.com/S_Sunane/status/772679284414619648
https://twitter.com/Mary_JaneSA/status/772678349009420289