JACOB ZUMA, South Africa’s ruling ANC president would be going to the courts in August and already warning of violence have been issued by grouping sympathetic to him.
SA Communist Party (SACP) in uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg have told residents and businesses that they should brace themselves for a “black week”.
A series of planned protests threaten to bring the city to a standstill for three days in the first week of August.
The protests have been planned to coincide with Zuma’s scheduled appearance at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on August 4 and 5 and with the Cosatu-led national protest against escalating food and fuel prices scheduled for August 6.
SACP district secretary Matthews Ndlovu is today quoted as saying the SACP, Cosatu and the ANC have received the backing of the KZN Taxi Council and the Transport Alliance.
This will ensure that the shutdown is effective, as public transport will stop, he said.
“We are calling all Pietermaritzburg people who are outside the city to either come back home before August 3 or to remain where they are until after the sixth as it will be very difficult to get in and out of the city during this tense period,” the SACP said.
The SACP, Cosatu and ANC are calling for the withdrawal of charges against Zuma.
The SACP threatened to do “anything possible” to ensure that the charges are withdrawn
The ANC has said a number of campaigns are set to take place in the city, including night vigils. Tripartite Alliance heavyweights are set to accompany Zuma to court.
During his rape trial, there where violent protests every time he went to court.
