PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma became the target of rampaging ANCYL members who brought the city to a standstill yesterday protesting outside Luthuli House in support of their leader Julius Malema.
Malema was appearing before the ANC discplinary committee facing charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and of sowing divisions within its structures.
The rowdy crowd burnt T-shirts with Zuma's face and some ANC flags - with some of the protesters carrying posters that called Zuma a "rapist and a Polokwane disaster".
The chanting crowd also identified Zuma as their "enemy".
Later in the day Malema addressed the crowd, calling on the protesters not to behave in a manner that would undermine the ANC legacy. He also warned them that burning the ANC flag and the T-shirts with Zuma's face "amounted to burning ourselves".
"These are our leaders and we must respect them. When they are outside the country those who see them see ourselves," Malema warned.
When Malema urged thousands of his supporters to spare journalists, ANC symbols and the police but attack the enemy, they responded: "Zuma, Zuma, Zuma."
"You should not throw stones at journalists because they are messengers and you will lose public sympathy if you attack them. The police are not your enemy. They are employed to protect you. You must attack the enemy," he said, to chants of "Zuma".
"Do not burn the flag of the ANC, Luthuli House cannot be attacked. In whatever you do you must be disciplined," he said.
Malema warned that silencing the ANCYL amounted to silencing the unemployed youth.
"The ANCYL is the only voice of the unemployed youth in this country," he said.
Later yesterday afternoon the ANC announced that Malema's disciplinary hearing and those of his co-leaders would be moved from Luthuli House to an undisclosed venue outside the city.
Unisa's African Renaissance Institute head Lesiba Tefo said the supporters' behaviour showed they wanted Zuma out. But analyst Elvis Masoga said the public should not be surprised if Malema was expelled from the ANC.
Protesters target Zuma
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma became the target of rampaging ANCYL members who brought the city to a standstill yesterday protesting outside Luthuli House in support of their leader Julius Malema.
Malema was appearing before the ANC discplinary committee facing charges of bringing the ANC into disrepute and of sowing divisions within its structures.
The rowdy crowd burnt T-shirts with Zuma's face and some ANC flags - with some of the protesters carrying posters that called Zuma a "rapist and a Polokwane disaster".
The chanting crowd also identified Zuma as their "enemy".
Later in the day Malema addressed the crowd, calling on the protesters not to behave in a manner that would undermine the ANC legacy. He also warned them that burning the ANC flag and the T-shirts with Zuma's face "amounted to burning ourselves".
"These are our leaders and we must respect them. When they are outside the country those who see them see ourselves," Malema warned.
When Malema urged thousands of his supporters to spare journalists, ANC symbols and the police but attack the enemy, they responded: "Zuma, Zuma, Zuma."
"You should not throw stones at journalists because they are messengers and you will lose public sympathy if you attack them. The police are not your enemy. They are employed to protect you. You must attack the enemy," he said, to chants of "Zuma".
"Do not burn the flag of the ANC, Luthuli House cannot be attacked. In whatever you do you must be disciplined," he said.
Malema warned that silencing the ANCYL amounted to silencing the unemployed youth.
"The ANCYL is the only voice of the unemployed youth in this country," he said.
Later yesterday afternoon the ANC announced that Malema's disciplinary hearing and those of his co-leaders would be moved from Luthuli House to an undisclosed venue outside the city.
Unisa's African Renaissance Institute head Lesiba Tefo said the supporters' behaviour showed they wanted Zuma out. But analyst Elvis Masoga said the public should not be surprised if Malema was expelled from the ANC.
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