TimesLive reports that, in an apparent backtrack‚ Durban mayor Zandile Gumede has said that “no one will be arrested or intimidated” for taking part in planned marches in the city on Friday – provided that protesters have permission.  

Gumede was quoted earlier on Thursday by the SABC as saying that marches against President Jacob Zuma‚ including one to be led by the DA‚ were tantamount to treason and that anyone who took part would be arrested.  However‚ in a statement issued via the official eThekwini Twitter account‚ this threat has seemingly been withdrawn.  The Twitter account said that two marches had been planned‚ one by the DA and the other by the ANC Youth League.  It could not immediately be established if the two groups – with wildly differing views on whether or not Zuma should be removed from office – would cross paths.  The municipality has meantime warned that action would be taken if anyone oversteps the mark.

• Read this report by Matthew Savides in full at TimesLive

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