South Africans have been offering to help the campaign’s demonstrations against state capture in November, one of its steering committee members, Lawson Naidoo, said on Monday.

“We have received numerous phone calls and are in consultation with a number of political parties as well as civil society over a plan of action for November 2,” Naidoo said.

The protests will take place as Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, former South African Revenue Service commissioner, Oupa Magashula, and former deputy commissioner, Ivan Pillay, appear in the Pretoria Regional Court.

They were charged with fraud for their role in granting Pillay early retirement in 2010, and re-hiring him on a contract later. Gordhan was Sars commissioner between 1999 and 2009.

‘Maximum impact’

Many have said the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to charge the three with fraud was part of a plot to unseat Gordhan as finance minister, due to his attempts to crack down on corruption and maladministration in President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet.

Founders of the Save South Africa campaign, including Anglo Ashanti CEO, Sipho Pityana, and former ministers Trevor Manuel and Barbara Hogan, have described the move as “nothing less than an unbridled attempt at further state capture, and designed to get unfettered access to state resources”.

The Economic Freedom Fighters and the Democratic Alliance have called on their supporters to demonstrate in defence of South Africa’s democracy on November 2.

Save South Africa said in a statement that interested parties, including civil society organisations, trade unions, faith-based bodies, businesses, and foundations had approached it.

The campaign intended to coordinate their initiatives on November 2, to ensure it had “maximum impact”.

“This is a crucial moment in our history, and we should use it to demonstrate that we will not allow corruption to continue. The looting must stop. Integrity must rise,” the campaign said.

- News24.com