Irrespective of what happens tomorrow, we are gathered here to shape the future of this country … We must as South Africans stand up and take our future into our hands…What is important is that as a society we come together.
On 7 August 2017, the #UniteBehind coalition, a group of 20 community, activist and faith-based movements, organised a protest march in Cape Town to the Parliamentary buildings the day before a crucial vote of no-confidence in President Zuma was due to be held. The march was a call on Members of Parliament (MPs) to recall the president and for all MPs to vote according to their constitutional obligations, rather than along political party lines.
Jonas led the march alongside other highly-respected religious and civic leaders. He addressed the thousands of marchers, calling for an end to the theft and impunity taking place in South Africa. According to the Daily Maverick, which covered the event “One of the loudest cheers of the day was reserved for Mcebisi Jonas, the former deputy finance minister who refused a R600-million bribe from the Guptas. Jonas did not dwell on Tuesday’s vote in his address, however, preferring to focus on the bigger picture. ‘Irrespective of what happens tomorrow, we are gathered here to shape the future of this country … We must as South Africans stand up and take our future into our hands…What is important is that as a society we come together.’”
