Supporters of embattled African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma marched on 16 Durban police stations on Friday to demand that charges against him be dropped.
The marches, announced last week by the ANC’s eThekwini region, were followed by the handing over of memorandums detailing the party’s demands, including the dropping of charges by the National Prosecuting Authority.
In KwaMashu, several tyres were set alight along the march route, with about 500 protesters singing songs and carrying banners making their demands clear.
A police officer was booed when he removed a burning tyre from the road, while a photographer was threatened as he attempted to take pictures.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Danelia Veldhuizen said about 300 people had gathered in Umlazi, Durban, and marched down Mangosuthu Highway, blocking the main route in and out of the area.
Superintendent Jay Naicker said that by midday marches to Chatsworth, Amanzimtoti, Cato Manor and Mariannhill police stations had been completed without any major incidents.
He said police estimated that 2 500 people in total attended those four marches.
He said it appeared that there had been no march on the Bluff and Umbilo police stations.
Police spokesperson Inspector Sbu Sithole said that about 500 people were marching on the Hillcrest police station.
”Some are carrying traditional weapons, but it’s peaceful,” he said.
Durban’s mayor, Obed Mlaba, was one of those who marched on the Hillcrest police station. He said that the march was peaceful.
The ANC has said the marches would be followed a week later by pickets outside and, where possible, inside 11 magistrate’s courts in the greater Durban area.
Following the protests outside the court buildings, a protest was planned for September 10 outside the National Prosecuting Authority offices in Durban. — Sapa