The calls for marchers to rise up in their millions against President Jacob Zuma fell flat yesterday - only a few hundred people showed up at "#ZumaMustFall" events around the country. By contrast thousands attended Freedom Day celebrations in Giyani, Limpopo, at which Zuma was the main speaker.But, despite the apathy, the leaders of the defiance campaign said it would continue to grow.About 300 marchers blew vuvuzelas and called for Zuma to resign in the Joburg city centre.In Durban, 150 protestors gathered, encouraged by hawkers shouting from the pavements that Zuma must go.Cape Town had the strongest showing, with about 500 people turning up to demand that Zuma "do the right thing".The leaders who had called for civil society to rise up against the president were notable by their absence.On April 16, former ANC bigwigs Ronnie Kasrils and Cheryl Carolus, and former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, stood on the steps of the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg and implored civil society to stand together and force Zuma to resign.This followed the court's judgment that Zuma had breached his oath of office in failing to uphold the constitution.Kasrils said at the time: "We see people rising up against greed and corruption ... We see trade unions, the religious groups, the communities, the women, the youth, the men, people in their millions rising up against greed and corruption and standing up as civil society in our multitudes to ensure these kinds of things cannot happen. If we succeed, [we must tell the leaders]: 'Serve your people and not yourself'."Vavi called for people to use "[Freedom Day] to discuss what we do ... to protect our constitution and protect our hard-won democracy".Academic and author Prince Mashele said: "We have the power to tell the ANC this man must go. If we rise up in our millions on [Freedom Day] and beyond Jacob Zuma will no longer be our president."United Front secretary Siphokazi Mkhize said: "The march was a huge success . it was fantastic.""It might seem like a small turnout but that is because we only invited civil society organisations, such as the Right2Know Campaign, Treatment Action Campaign, United Front and others."Next time it will be bigger. We will invite everyone. We are getting the message across. It's time he [Zuma] goes."One of the Johannesburg organisers, Ferrial Adam, of environmental NGO 350.org, said only about 200 or 300 people had been expected and it was this number that was used in applying for permission for the march from the Johannesburg metro police.But there were at least 20 paid marshals at the Johannesburg event - about one for every 10 demonstrators - suggesting that a higher turnout had been expected.Adam said the alliance of trade unions, religious groups and civil society did not have the resources to stage a huge event yesterday, but they hoped to be able to build up momentum so that they could hold a much bigger protest on Youth Day, June 16."This is not the end of the defiance campaign."Adam said activists were planning a march on the Guptas' Saxonwold home on May 14.Brutus Malada, a political analyst and a member of the Midrand Group, said he joined the Cape Town event because he wanted to say "no" to corruption."South Africa deserves a credible leadership; a moral leadership . Jacob Zuma represents everything that is wrong about South Africa."Trade unionist Stephen Faulkner said: "I am really pleased with the turnout [in Johannesburg].""We are in the process of rebuilding, one step at a time, a civil society movement."For five or six years at least, civil society and a whole section of organised labour and political organisations have been paralysed."There will be ups and downs ... It would have been marvellous today if we had 1000 or 2000 people, but none of us is disappointed. We got people together who have never been here before."Political analyst Andrew Duvenhage blamed the poor turnout on the lack of financial support.He said political apathy was growing among young people."You can see this by the lower turnout of voters."Young people are not as politically involved as young people were pre-1994. Young people are more interested in having a cellphone and going to university."Political analyst Raymond Suttner said: "My question is not 'Why are there not more people at these marches?' but is there a carefully planned discussion of how to address the problems in the government, which are not just about Zuma?"..