South Africans march against their President

BBC.COM | Wednesday December 16, 2015 15:58

 

The latest protests are a reaction to him sacking two finance ministers last week, further damaging confidence in the economy.

This comes on top of claims of widespread corruption, recent student protests and a succession battle in the governing African National Congress.

The marchers are using the hasthag #ZumaMustFall on social media.

The #ZumaMustFall hashtag is a modification of #FeesMustFall which was used to organise protests against a rise in university fees.

Before that, #RhodesMustFall was used to demand a statue of British colonialist Cecil Rhodes was removed from the University of Cape Town's campus.

The ANC has been in power since the end of apartheid in 1994 and won a landslide in general elections last year.

However, the economy is struggling, unemployment is around 25% and many accuse ANC officials of corruption.

Mr Zuma's decision to appoint the little known Des van Rooyen as finance minister, before replacing him four days later, was widely condemned.

The appointment led the rand to tumble to record lows, although it rose after he was replaced by the respected Pravin Gordhan on Sunday night.