Pretoria - A string of high-profile ANC leaders took to the stage at a march for "unity, democracy and non-racialism" in Pretoria on Friday, using the opportunity to take a swipe at opposition leaders and defend President Jacob Zuma against "hooligans".
Gauteng Premier David Makhura addressed the crowd on the lawns outside the Union Buildings, saying he wanted to send a "very strong message".
"Many of our people are not here today because they are still suffering from racial oppression. We don't have a place for racism in our country. We know today whose leading party has the most racist leaders in the party," said Makhura, to which his supporters responded, "DA!".
"Lindiwe Mazibuko [former DA parliamentary leader] told the DA that it's the racist party in Parliament," added Makhura.
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza said: "We came here in large numbers to say no to racism... We are saying no to people who think they can fight against our president. Say no to hooligans [who] think they can remove our sitting president."
Limpopo chairperson Nocks Seabi paid tribute to former ANC leaders.
"Forward with democracy, forward. Down with racism, down. Long live the dying spirit of Nelson Mandela and Albert Luthuli," said Seabi.
Free State Premier Ace Magashule tackled the Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters.
"Down with the DA, the EFF. This is the time to say, enough is enough. Away with racism. We can only defeat racism when we are united.
"We must defend the president now, comrades, and say, 'hands off Zuma'. We must go into our towns and township and unite our people and the ANC."
South Africans must defend the revolution
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe called on South Africans to defend their revolution while addressing approximately 87 000 supporters at the party's march on Friday.
Mantashe said that when people talked about the ANC, it was not about Zuma, but about the revolution.
"We must defend the revolution and defend every attack on the ANC structures," Mantashe said.
He said that an attack on President Jacob Zuma was also an attack on the ANC.
According to Mantashe, "any advice from your enemy is not advice". He urged ANC members to never take any advice from their enemies.
"We are a majority, we should be able to take decisions and enforce them," Mantashe said.
He said that the march was not a protest, but rather a positive initiative for a united society.
Mantashe also accused the US Embassy of meeting daily to advance regime change in South Africa.
This article first appeared on News24 – see here.
