#ZumaMustFall Marches on Schedule

Contrary to rumours, the Cape Town #ZumaMustFall march is going ahead at 12.30. Someone hijacked the organiser’s page and changed the time to confuse people.

The marches are taking place today as all eyes will be on President Jacob Zuma when he walks into the National Assembly to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) tonight at 7pm.

This will be President Zuma’s third State of the Nation Address to the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament since he was re-elected into office after the May 2014 elections.

On Monday President Zuma went on a walk-about in Marabastad, in the central business district of Pretoria, to ask commuters what they want him to say in the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to the Presidency, the President interacted with informal traders, commuters and a contingency of foreign nationals seeking assistance from the Department of Home Affairs in the area where the President made an unannounced visit.

President Zuma spoke to citizens and foreign nationals at Home Affairs who had come to apply for all sorts of documents and permits.

“I have listened attentively to all the concerns of the people. The foreign nationals complained about bribery. They said they pay officials a lot of money to get refugee or asylum permits. I asked an official from the Department of Home Affairs to explain the processes to the foreign nationals queuing outside the premises.

“I am satisfied that their concerns will be addressed,” said President Zuma.

The President said he would inform the Minister of Home of Affairs Malusi Gigaba about the matter.

“I had the opportunity earlier to interact with commuters, shoppers and some of the informal traders who all told us about some of the challenges they face daily. This includes lack of proper shelter for their shops and problems relating to bylaws as they said its problems ‘with the municipality’.

“I have promised them that I will send the Minister of Small Business Development to attend to their problems. The visit has been helpful for me ahead of the SONA, especially with regards to hawkers, cooperatives and survivalist enterprises. Life is quite difficult for the people here,’’ said the President.

The #ZumaMustFall marches in South Africa today are as follows:

CAPE TOWN
DATE : Thursday 11th of February 2016
EVENT TYPE: March
TIME : 12:30PM for a 13:00PM start
VENUE : Green Market Square
DRESS : Black

PRETORIA
DATE : Thursday 11th of February 2016
EVENT TYPE: Sit-in
TIME : 16:30PM for a 17:00PM start
VENUE : The South Grounds in front of the Union Buildings
DRESS : Black

PORT ELIZABETH- NELSON MANDELA BAY
DATE : Thursday 11th of February 2016
EVENT TYPE: Sit-in
TIME : 16:30PM for a 17:00PM start
VENUE : The Donkin Reserve
DRESS : Black

DURBAN
DATE : Thursday 11th of February 2016
EVENT TYPE: Sit-in
TIME : 16:30PM for a 17:00PM start
VENUE : City Hall/ Natural Science Museum
DRESS : Black

The State of the Nation Address will be broadcast live on a number of television and radio stations and streamed live on Parliament’s website and at approximately 30 public viewing sites.

The President will give an update on the implementation of the Programme of Action based on the National Development Plan (NDP).