Rape accused Zwilinzima Vavi says 'Zuma will turn SA into another Zimbabwe'

Former Congress of the South African Trade Unions General-Secretary  Zwelinzima Vavi who was accused of raping a fellow Cosatu employee has warned that South Africa will become the next Zimbabwe if President Jacob Zuma is not stopped.

Vavi was addressing a crowd gathered at the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg in support of the "Zuma Must Fall" campaign.

This is one of several marches being held in various cities, which attracted thousands of people.

Vavi directed his criticism at the government and ANC leadership as well as the president. "They have run out of ideas. They don't what to do. The only thing they know is to loot the resources of our country to the point that if we allow them to continue to do what they are doing, we will be in the same position as Zimbabwe is today."

President Zuma caused an outcry last week when he unexpectedly axed Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, replacing him with little know David van Rooyen, damaging markets and the rand. Although Van Rooyen was replaced with Pravin Gordhan four days later, most South Africans feel Zuma only has his own interests at heart and not that of the country. Civil organisations have vowed to disrupt the State of the Nation Address should the ANC refuse to recall the president.

Other events forming part of the campaign have been held in Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and elsewhere.  In Pretoria, just under a thousand protesters gathered at the Union Buildings to call for President Zuma to step down.  

The crowd marched from the Pretoria art museum to the Union Buildings, despite the Tshwane metro police department saying it had received no formal request from the organisers.