In this article

OPPOSITION parties are engaged in high-level talks to stage a march to the Union Buildings before Freedom Day on April 27 to demand that President Jacob Zuma resign over Nkandla, Business Day has learnt.

A meeting of opposition parties was held on Monday of last week, at which Electoral Commission chairwoman Pansy Tlakula’s resignation was demanded. The meeting discussed the Union Buildings march as well as the state of the SABC.

On Friday, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema tweeted: "We will soon announce the date of the march to the Union Buildings to demand Zuma’s resignation as the president."

Speaking at the Gauteng launch of the EFF’s manifesto on Sunday, Mr Malema commended the South Gauteng High Court for its ruling that it was "fair comment" for the Democratic Alliance to infer that Mr Zuma stole public money in the Nkandla project. Mr Malema said Mr Zuma could not even share a clinic with the people of Nkandla, referring to the facility built as part of the security upgrades.

United Democratic Movement president Bantu Holomisa said on Sunday that "informal consultations" on the march had been held. It was agreed that the final decision would depend on Mr Zuma’s response to Parliament on the Nkandla issue last Wednesday.

African Christian Democratic Party president Kenneth Meshoe, who left last Monday’s meeting early, said marching for the resignation of Mr Zuma before the general election would "strategically not be a wise move" as "a new face would draw more sympathy votes". But he said he would support Mr Zuma’s impeachment after the elections.

EFF Gauteng premier candidate Dali Mpofu said the party would turn Nkandla into a university of technology "when it comes into power".