‘Why we cancelled #OccupyLuthuliHouse’

Organisers of the #OccupyLuthuliHouse protest say that a “possible Marikana” would have happened if they had gone ahead.

Johannesburg - The planned #OccupyLuthuliHouse protest has been cancelled at the 11th hour following threats of violence and intimidation against its organisers.

Organiser Gugu Ndima said they had expected about 3 000 ANC supporters to attend the protest, but pleaded with them to stay away because of the strong security detail around the party’s headquarters in central Joburg.

She said there had been “high level threats” against many of their comrades, with some receiving calls that they “would be dealt with”.

Some Umkhonto weSizwe military veterans openly jeered and threatened Ndima at the nearby Beyers Naude Square, where she briefed the media contingent covering the event.

Ndima’s counterpart, Sasabona Manganye, chairman of the ANC’s Sefako Makgatho branch, described the heavy police presence in the Luthuli House precinct as “very shocking”.

“We were surprised to see all the police cars around Luthuli House. We are here to request the national executive committee to do the right thing. We will submit a memorandum to the ANC on behalf of all those who were supposed to be here,” he said.

Manganye said more than anyone else, it was President Jacob Zuma who had brought the name of the ANC into disrepute. He said however, they would subject themselves to any ANC disciplinary processes, should the organisation charge them.

He was adamant that a “possible Marikana” would have happened if they had gone ahead with the protest.

Manganye called on the ANC to get its house in order in an effort to inspire confidence ahead of what’s expected to be the hotly contested national election in 2019.

“The ANC must hold its moral high ground. We are fighting for the ANC to be what it’s supposed to be, not something foreign. Zuma remains the elephant in the house regarding some of the challenges we have. We want Zuma to resign in order to inspire confidence in our people,” said Manganye, describing the ANC leader as someone who did not uphold the very values that underpinned the former liberation movement.

The #OccupyLuthuliHouse organisers are demanding, among other things, that ANC stalwarts lead the movement to a consultative conference in December to deal with the many challenges dogging the ANC.

luyolo.mkentane@inl.co.za

@luyolomkentane

The Star