ANCYL march reaches JSE

Johannesburg - ANC Youth League (ANCYL) members arrived at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton just after 17:00 on Thursday in the second stage of their economic march to freedom.

The JSE closes at 17:00, but a woman on the premises told reporters officials would wait to receive the memorandum from the ANCYL.

Prior to the arrival of the main group who had made their way from the Johannesburg CBD, a small group of supporters sang liberation songs in isiZulu.

"This is Malema, they do not know him, they have never seen him," they sang.

Another group sang: "We've been telling you Juju is coming."

Someone carried a placard reading Economic freedom for all, thank you Juju.

Cars covered in yellow ANC posters promoting the march lined Rivonia Road and private security company employees escorted minibuses decorated with the same posters, while helicopters circled overhead.

After handing their document to the JSE, the plan is to walk to Pretoria, where a night vigil is expected to be held. The group then intends converging on the Union Buildings on Friday.

Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance Youth leader Makashule Gana called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to investigate the reported disruption of schooling in Alexandra, Soweto and the East Rand.

"Keeping schoolchildren out of classrooms and manipulating them for political ends, especially during this critical fourth term examination period, is highly unethical and infringes on their right to education enshrined in the constitution," Gana said in a statement.

Earlier, the SABC reported that members of the Congress of SA Students had forced pupils from Alexandra and Soweto schools to join the march.

"We implore the minister to investigate these incidents and institute serious action against those found guilty of disrupting valuable teaching time."