TENS of thousands of South Africans have marked the 75th birthday of President Jacob Zuma with a protest against him. They called for his resignation because of scandals and his dismissal of a widely respected finance minister.
The president, meanwhile, danced at a party where well-wishers said they loved him. The rally in the capital, Pretoria, comes amid sharp criticism of Zuma within the ruling African National Congress party, although he still commands the support of powerful ANC factions.
President Zuma, who is in his second five-year term after becoming president in 2009, has become a flashpoint for concerns about government corruption and mismanagement in one of Africa’s most powerful economies.
Police estimated the crowd size in Pretoria at 30,000. Organisers said the number was higher.
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