"Phantsi Zuma, phantsi!" a crowd of South African Communist Party (SACP) supporters shouted outside Parliament, shortly after Cape Town's Noon Gun's shot rang out over the inner city.

About 150 members of the SACP gathered outside the gates of Parliament to picket and hand over two memorandums. The one memorandum is for the police, the other for Parliament.

The party reaffirmed its call that President Jacob Zuma should step down, and that the Gupta's citizenship should be revoked.

'Intimidation and threats'

The SACP called on the police to expedite the investigation into the alleged assassination attempt on its second deputy secretary general Solly Mapaila.

During a Chris Hani memorial lecture in Ekurhuleni on April 10, which was attended by Zuma, a firearm was apparently pointed at Mapaila.

There have also been protests outside his house, where some protesters allegedly carried petrol bombs and firearms, according to the SACP.

Western Cape SACP secretary Benson Ngqentsu said one of the questions the investigation should answer is why Zuma delayed the event after his arrival.

Furthermore, the SACP also condemned "all forms of intimidation and threats of violence against political activists, journalists and ordinary members of society that express dissent against the government and president", according to the memorandum that was handed to police.

The other memorandum deals with state capture and calls on Parliament to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate state owned enterprises (SOEs).

Western Cape second deputy secretary Sonwabile Ngxiza said members of the executive that enabled the looting of the state coffers were "traitors of the revolution" and should be barred from holding any public office.

The SACP had earlier called for an investigation into corruption at SOEs, but the #GuptaLeaks revelations have added fuel to the fire, as the email leaks "implicate many ministers in corruption".

"Parliament cannot abdicate its responsibility to ensure good governance," Ngxiza said.

Longstanding feud

He said the SACP appreciated the steps Parliament had instituted to deal with the #GuptaLeaks, but it required a more systematic approach - hence their call for an ad hoc committee. This is a sentiment shared by the Democratic Alliance.

Sthembiso Tembe, chairperson of Nehawu's branch at Parliament, also addressed the picketers. He thanked the SACP for their support in the parliamentary staff's longstanding feud with Parliament's administration, particularly the now suspended secretary of parliament Gengezi Mgidlana.

He said the looting of SOEs had to stop and that Nehawu supported the call for an ad hoc committee.

"Parliament is problematic itself because you cannot preach what you don't practice. If Parliament is serious about fighting corruption, they must start here in Parliament," said Tembe.

"Our primary task is to bring down corruption. Our primary task is to bring down corrupt leaders," said Western Cape SACP chairperson Anthony Dietrich, before the picketers dispersed around 13:00.