South African civic movement Defend South Africa (DSA) is gearing up for a coordinated mass protest across all nine provinces on Thursday, 4 April 2025, calling for the immediate resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The movement accuses the President of failing to address the country’s deepening socio-economic crisis.
In the Eastern Cape, DSA will lead a peaceful march from Bhisho Stadium to the Eastern Cape Legislature, where a petition and resignation letter addressed to the President will be handed over to the Speaker, Hon. Saul August. Similar actions will unfold in the other eight provinces, with the Union Buildings in Gauteng serving as the main focal point of the campaign.
In a press statement, DSA said it is “a civic movement dedicated to protecting the socio-political interests of all South Africans for peace, harmony, and prosperity.” The organization cited “unprecedented levels of unemployment, crime, economic decline, and lawlessness” as grounds for its demand.
Nikita Vitshima, National Spokesperson and Eastern Cape Chairperson of DSA, confirmed that various segments of society have expressed support for the marches.
“In Gauteng, we had discussions with Operation Dudula and its provincial structures. In KwaZulu-Natal, civic movements recently marched to the Department of Home Affairs demanding answers about illegal foreign nationals,” said Vitshima. “In the Eastern Cape, most supporters are ordinary citizens who are deeply frustrated by the state of the country.”
2 days to go!#CyrilRamaphosaMustFall #DefendSA #AprilFoolsDay #GNUmustFall #EidMubarak pic.twitter.com/A8fH2SfCCw
— Defend South Africa (@DefendSouthAfri) April 1, 2025
While no formal confirmation was provided by religious organizations, Vitshima said faith-based communities and traditional leaders have expressed solidarity with the initiative. “We are currently writing to churches across all provinces, and someone from the clergy will be opening with prayer on the day, depending on availability.”
When asked about government reaction, Vitshima said no formal response has been received from the Presidency or any official structures. However, she stressed that DSA remains committed to peaceful protest, in line with constitutional rights.
All provinces have been instructed to ensure that the marches are peaceful and law-abiding, – she said.
Vitshima also confirmed that DSA does not currently have a political alternative to President Ramaphosa but believes that his resignation would be a crucial first step toward accountability and reform. “This is not about politics—it’s about justice. We believe new leadership must come from collective civic engagement and not imposed from the top down.”
According to the official itinerary, the Eastern Cape media briefing will begin at 9:00 am at Bhisho Stadium, with the march starting at 10:00 am and reaching the Legislature by 12:30 pm.
The movement has called on South Africans to join the marches “as we defend our nation and work towards a better future for all.”
