Julius Malema, 34, Limpopo

All of us we are here today to uphold the constitution of the republic of South Africa. The journalists of ANN7 and New Age are welcome here. They are our members, but they must not come representing those thugs. If they want to come on their own, they are free to come. And there is no one that can force us to invite the Guptas in our events, not even a court. We do not want them. We have the right to invite whoever we want, like we invited you here. You have been writing nonsense about us. You are more than welcome here.

Adelaide Phantsi, 68, West Rand

I’m very much upset and hurt. I was arrested in 1989 as an ANC member but I couldn’t manage to raise my kids because I dedicated many of my early years to the ANC. I’m here to force Zuma to pay back the money and get rid of the Guptas. Apparently they are no good to our country. I’m terribly hurt. I was one of the first settlers in my community but I still haven’t received an RDP house because the councillors are selling them. Zuma doesn’t know what we veterans who fought for the country are eating today, except for those that are ANC supporters. Zuma is dishonest, first he said he does not owe any money, now he is prepared to pay. This is the kind of treatment that made me leave the ANC.

Maitse Mosikidi, 33, Free State

I’m here to support the petition for Zuma to pay back the money. I’m happy that this is done through the courts and not in the jungle as Zuma would have liked. So much has gone wrong with him at the reign. The drastic fall of the rand is partly Zuma’s fault. We are a laughing stock of other nations because of him. He stumbles on his appointments and cause us huge embarrassment. It was important to go through this the legal way to be an example to the president. All I want to hear from the Constitutional Court is that they have forced Zuma to pay back the money. His friends the Gupta family must leave the country at once.

Mabel Maduna, 58, Soweto

First I’m here because I’m a member of the EFF in good standing. I respect the EFF’s ideology. They fight against the oppression of poor black people. I’m in support of Thuli Madonsela, whose powers have been seriously undermined by Zuma. We demand our money. It must be paid back to the people of South Africa. People who doubt the EFF should think again, as clearly the ANC has done absolutely nothing in over 20 years of democracy. If a snail finds splinters in his shell he changes house, why do people still vote ANC?

Kamogelo Thebe, 38

I’m here to witness the court compel Zuma to pay back the money. I’m here to support the court. Zuma took an oath to abide by the constitution but he is doing the exact opposite. It’s a lot of money that he owes. Where is he going to get it? Or will the Guptas bail him out? We are surprised by this Gupta family that lands contracts left, right and centre while South Africans are left sucking their thumbs. The Guptas must leave our country. If it were up to me, we’d walk from here to Saxonworld where the Guptas live to show them that we want them out. They are abusing state resources through their corrupt friendship with the president. I want the Constitutional Court to find in our favour. We have had enough.

Dineo Kapane, 31

I’m here to support the EFF’s petition and hoping the court will do the right thing. I’ll be glad to see the court compel him to pay back the money. They must admit before court that Zuma will pay. The president has done a lot of damage to the country. Personally I’d enjoy to see him fall. The Guptas must leave our country. It’s not a secret that they have a corrupt relationship with our president. All I want to hear from the court is when Zuma is paying back the money. But where is he going to get the money to replace taxpayers’ money? Because of his dishonesty, we now have to make sure public purses are tucked away.

Matome Walter Malatji, 31, Rustenburg

I’m here to support the petition against Jacob Zuma. I need to witness it as the man has lied to the nation on numerous occasions. I’m here to raise awareness against a state that misuses taxpayers’ money for their own good. As for the Guptas, they must fall or leave. They must leave now because they have sown divisions between the president and his people, and the president enjoys it all. The one thing that will set me free is when the court compels him to pay. That’s not all though, once he’s compelled to pay, he must step down.

Hannelie Makhaotse, 20, Pretoria

I want to witness the court make president Zuma pay back some of the money he used to build his palace. The president has his way with taxpayers’ money, our money. The president has been inconsiderate, he has bestowed all power upon himself and wields that power maliciously on his own people. He vowed under oath to uphold the constitution all the time but he has disrespected the constitution at every chance he got. The Gupta family must go because they are a bad influence to the president, but Zuma also needs to be considerate as a statesman. I’m sure he wouldn’t last a day in poor kids’ shoes. He wouldn’t because he does not sleep in a shack. I wish the Constitutional Court find in the opposition parties’ favour.

Mapule Selepe, 40, Free State

I’m here to support my president Julius Malema. I want Zuma to pay back that money and stop ducking. His animals live in comfort while we live in shacks. The court must find in the EFF’s favour and prove to him that no one is above the law. His Gupta friends must leave because clearly they are not South Africa’s favourite family and they are to blame. DM

Main photo: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema (C) waits to address supporters before a march to South Africa’s constitutional court in Johannesburg, February 9, 2016. REUTERS/Sydney Seshibedi