Large Street Protests in South Africa against Zuma

President Zuma, who came to office in 2009, has faced several corruption scandals, but managed to survive numerous attempts to have him removed from office. He also got the backing of a major decision-making body within the party.

The protest in Johannesburg was organised by the Democratic Alliance, which some ANC supporters accuse of harbouring white racists. Members of the ANC party's youth wing also gathered outside its headquarters at Luthuli House to shield it from protestors.

People understood to be apart of Zuma's inner circle and who are included in an exclusive WhatAapp group called the "Black Empowerment Foundation" were told by Edward Zuma that Gordhan was definitely going to be fired during the Cabinet reshuffle which took place nearly two weeks ago. Standard and Poor's downgraded South Africa to #junkstatus shortly after, and Fitch followed suit.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at some African National Congress protesters in Johannesburg, injuring a man and a woman, a Reuters witness said.

Zuma has been accused of being in the sway of the wealthy Gupta business family, allegedly granting them influence over government appointments, contracts and state-owned businesses.

Around thirty thousand from all walks of life were reported to have assembled outside the Union buildings in Pretoria, many holding banners and placards. "I also marched then", added the eyewitness, to refer to the apartheid era. But this was later overturned by a magistrate.

The memorial where Zuma spoke was held in honor of Chris Hani, an anti-apartheid leader who was fatally shot on April 10, 1993.

The protest went on peacefully under the watchful eye of police.

The ANC said there had been no internal discussions about Zuma heeding the call to step down. Protesters marched through the city with their faces painted, carrying messages of "downgrade Zuma, not South Africa" in reference to the country's amended credit rating. The post read, "The laws of our country protect the right of those who would not like to participate in protest action".

Thousands of people have joined rallies in South Africa demanding the resignation of President Zuma after his sacking of a popular minister stoked simmering anger over government corruption and a struggling economy.

It left some in the ANC leadership questioning whether Mr Zuma should remain as president.

"There has been no such discussion", ANC spokesperson Khusela Sangoni said, when asked if the protests had led to any discussions in the party about Zuma.

Elsewhere in Cape Town, protesters formed human chains along streets, to express their unhappiness with Zuma who is facing mounting pressure to resign after he reshuffled the cabinet last week.

Zuma reshuffled his cabinet on March 30, changing a total of 20 ministerial and deputy ministerial roles.