'Enough is Enough’ shouted protesters as Ramaphosa finally makes an appearance outside Parliament

For two days activists have gathered outside Parliament demanding that the President address them. On Thursday, Cyril Ramaphosa finally acceded to their demands, addressing the crowd instead of delivering his planned speech at the World Economic Forum.

United in their anger and frustration, protesters – academics, activists, students, politicians, dressed in black – had over the past two days demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa address them.

And when he finally made his way to address the thousands-strong crowd, he was greeted by protesters chanting  “enough is enough!” and singing struggle song Senzeni Na? (What have we done?) The protesters, who sang the national anthem earlier during the morning, refused to do so before Ramaphosa addressed them.

As he began speaking, a hostile and heckling crowd booed him before settling down enough for Ramaphosa to speak.

“I stand with a deep sense of feeling. I know what all of you are going through, yes I know,” said the President through boos and shouts of “enough is enough”. 

The President said “I can see all your messages on the placards you are holding and I am internalising all of them” at which point, someone in the crowd shouted, “where is yours?”

Protesters outside Parliament on Thursday. Photo: Anso Thom