Anti-Zuma protest is a family affair for business owner

Not even the wet weather could dampen the resolve of shipping company owner Gordon Cook and his two children from going to Church Square in Pretoria to pressure beleaguered President Jacob Zuma to leave office.

“It is about our children‚ not about us. The Guptas have corrupted the whole of the ANC leadership‚ from top to bottom‚ and they must go. We all come from the ANC. We were born in the struggle but the current leadership is letting us down‚” Cook said.

On Wednesday Cook was accompanied by his two children‚ Shaista‚ 22‚ who handles logistics and supply chains for his company in Ekurhuleni‚ as well as his six-year-old son Shalin‚ who is in Grade 1.

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“He must just go. I believe these marches will be successful in getting rid of Zuma because nothing can defeat the spirit and determination of a united civil society. As long as we keep at these protests‚ I believe he will leave‚” he said.

Asked what he would say to Zuma's face if he was given the opportunity‚ Cook said: “I would ask my little son to teach him how to count. He would beat him hands down.”

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By 10 am on Wednesday morning‚ about 500 people‚ mainly in Economic Freedom Fighters regalia‚ had gathered at Church Square ahead of the march to the Union Buildings.

According to police‚ 10‚000 people are expected to take part in the march‚ with buses ferrying protesters from Atteridgeville‚ Mabopane‚ Soshanguve‚ Hammanskraal‚ Olivenhoutbosch and as far as Mpumalanga.

• High spirits in Pretoria as protesters prepare for anti-Zuma marchBefore the sun had risen on Wednesday‚ EFF supporters had already gathered at Church Square in Pretoria ahead of the national Day of Action march‚ calling on President Jacob Zuma to resign. 

Calls for Zuma to step down have been escalating after his axing of finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas in a cabinet reshuffle‚ resulting in the country’s investment status being downgraded to junk by rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s.