Zuma’s 75th birthday marred with serious protest in South Africa

Thousands of protesters demanding the resignation of South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday has marred the president’s 75th birthday.

The protest which was organised by a coalition of opposition parties following nationwide rallies against Zuma last week, took place in the capital city of Pretoria.

The president’s recent dismissal of finance minister Pravin Gordhan stoked public anger over government corruption scandals, record unemployment and slowing economic growth.

The march was led by the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, along with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and smaller opposition parties. The parties dubbed Wednesday’s march “a national day of action”.

The celebration of Zuma’s birthday took place in Soweto and Johannesburg.

His party, the African National Congress (ANC) organised a celebratory rally to be held at the Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown.

But in the capital, Pretoria, organisers say at least 10,000 people are expected to join the second anti-Zuma march.

The first march, organised by Save South Africa, was held countrywide last Friday.

Early Wednesday morning marchers started gathering at Church Square and are scheduled to march to the Union Building, which houses President Zuma’s office at lunch time.

Born 12 April 1942, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has been South Africa’s President since 2009, he was re-elected in the 2014 election.

Zuma is also the President of the African National Congress (ANC), the governing political party, and was Deputy President of South Africa from 1999 to 2005.