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South Africa: Opposition supporters march against president South Africa: Opposition supporters march against president
(about 1 hour later)
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s biggest opposition party marched to pressure President Jacob Zuma to step down over a state spending scandal. JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s biggest opposition party on Friday evoked Nelson Mandela’s legacy while pressuring President Jacob Zuma to quit over a state spending scandal.
Thousands marched to the country’s highest court on Friday over the scandal involving millions of dollars in state spending on Zuma’s private residence. The Constitutional Court in March ruled that Zuma violated the constitution. Opposition supporters marched to the country’s highest court, demanding that Zuma should quit over the scandal involving millions of dollars in state spending on his private residence.
Zuma has said he would pay back some funds but the opposition said he should quit. The Constitutional Court in March ruled that Zuma violated the constitution.
“Stop corruption,” read one of the placards. Another read: “Vote for change.” Zuma has said he would pay back some funds, but the opposition wants him to step down.
Some religious leaders have also said Zuma should quit, but he is supported by powerful ruling party factions. “If you trample on the constitution you trample on Nelson Mandela, if you trample on Nelson Mandela you trample on the people of South Africa. We are here to reclaim our freedom,” said Musi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s biggest opposition party.
The South African parliament recently defeated an opposition motion to remove him from office. Mandela, who died in 2013, was a major anti-apartheid figure whose spirit of forgiveness helped steer a peaceful transition from white-ruled South Africa to a multiracial democracy. He became the country’s first black president in 1994.
Maimane spoke to loud cheers from thousands of supporters while facing a banner that read: “#South Africa comes first.”
Zuma is supported by powerful factions of the ruling African National Congress party. Parliament recently defeated an opposition motion to remove him from office.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.