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S. Africa's opposition party to stage protest in solidarity with embattled finance minister

Xinhua, October 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Africa's opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said on Thursday that it will stage a protest in solidarity with embattled Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

EFF leader Julius Malema told a press briefing in Johannesburg that the protest will take place on November 2, the day when Gordhan appears in court to face fraud charges.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) summoned Gordhan on Tuesday, ordering him to appear in court to face charges in relation to the "rogue unit" he set up when he was commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) between 1999 and 2009.

Gordhan is accused of unlawfully setting up the unit. But he has denied the accusation, saying the unit was lawfully established to perform very important functions for and on behalf of SARS.

The EFF and other political parties have voiced support for Gordhan, saying they believed that he is innocent.

Malema said President Jacob Zuma and the wealthy Indian Gupta family, which allegedly keeps close ties with Zuma, want to force Gordhan to resign and replace him with a puppet and loot the state resources.

Malema said the protest is also designed to force Zuma to step down.

"Jacob Zuma must immediately step down as President and Head of State in South Africa. The Guptas must be disconnected from all state contracts and immediately leave South Africa," Malema said.

He also urged Shaun Abrahams, the NPA head, to immediately resign.

Malema accused the Gupta family of siphoning resources from the country's state-owned enterprises.

Malema said the EFF also wants to use the protest to press demand for free education in the country's universities.

He said the EFF is in solidarity with protesting students who are calling for zero percent fee increase for 2017 and free education onwards.

The Guptas have been accused of exerting influence on Zuma in the appointment of cabinet ministers. But the Guptas have denied the accusation, saying they have fallen victim to internal political struggle in South Africa.

Malema said they have already applied and got permission to protest on November 2. Endit