Julius Malema's supporters burned a picture of SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande at an all-night vigil for the ANC Youth League leaders at Beyers Naude Square in Johannesburg last night.
Supporters said they believed the disciplinary charges had come from within the SACP. There were also resentful of the fact that Nzimande had welcomed the reaffirmation of discipline in the ANC at a press conference on Sunday.
At the time of going to press, the large numbers of supporters expected to attend the vigil ahead of Malema's appearance at nearby Luthuli House today had not materialised. People, wrapped in ANC and youth league blankets, arrived in drips and drabs, with about 200 supporters dancing and singing struggle songs, including Dubhuli 'Bhunu. A large sound system had been set up in the square.
Police had closed-off several roads. Scores of officers were deployed in the area. Across the road from the vigil stood an armoured car - one of at least five in the area - a water cannon and three trailers with barbed wire. Police officers said they expected busloads of supporters to arrive early today.
Among Malema's supporters was Lucas Yezo, who took his three-year-old daughter Asake to the all-night vigil.
"She must understand where our history began so she can also have a full appreciation of the struggle after 1994," he said.
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