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Max Sisulu joins Save South Africa assembly - latest in roster of big names standing up against Zuma

African National Congress leader Max Sisulu — a son of party luminaries Walter and Albertina Sisulu — has joined the #SaveSouthAfrica assembly in Pretoria.

Sisulu was Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa from 2009 to 2014 and a member of the ANC’s national executive committee. Earlier this year‚ he broke ranks in publicly chastising Parliament for their handling of the Nkandla scandal involving President Jacob Zuma.

He is among a who’s who of struggle stalwarts‚ religious leaders‚ businesspeople and civic activists who gathered at Pretoria’s St Albans Cathedral under the banner of Save South Africa on Wednesday‚ also labelled “The People’s Assembly Against State Capture“. Their stated aim is “addressing the acute social crisis that has been brought about by corruption‚ mismanagement and political intrigue”.

Notable in the audience are ANC Gauteng chair Paul Mashatile‚ one-time leading ANC politician Cheryl Carolus‚ who earlier this year called for President Zuma to resign; as well as former minister Barbara Hogan‚ who attended with her life partner Ahmed Kathrada‚ a friend of the late Nelson Mandela who spent time with him on Robben Island.

Representing business was AngloGold Ashanti chairman Sipho Pityana‚ who last month called for Zuma to step down‚ labelling him the “sponsor-in-chief of corruption”. He also made a tearful speech lamenting the state of the ruling party and the country at the funeral for the late Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile earlier this year.

Another captain of business was Telkom chairman Jabu Mabuza‚ who told Wednesday’s gathering that he was “opposed to malicious‚ politically motivated prosecutions. We also commit to fighting inequality and social injustice”.

SA’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein told the assembly that the battle against corruption “is a titanic fight against good and evil”.

Another religious leader was Anglican Bishop of Pretoria Allen Kannemeyer‚ who adapted an African saying: “When elephants fight‚ the grass suffers. It is the poor that suffers now.”

The Treatment Action Campaign was represented by Anele Yawa‚ who said that “during the dark days of Aids denialism‚ it was the TAC who stood up to the government. Today we must stand up again.”

 

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