JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – THE opposition is piling the pressure on President Jacob Zuma after yet another gaffe.
On Sunday night he finally backtracked to relieve the little known David van Rooyen from the Finance Portfolio and replaced him with Pravin Gordhan, who bounces back to the position.
The move came barely four days after Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene under controversial circumstances.
This past weekend, Zuma announced he had received representations to reconsider his costly decision.
“As a democratic government, we emphasise the importance of listening to the people and to respond to their views. I have appointed Pravin Gordhan, the current minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs as the new minister of finance. Minister Gordhan will return to a portfolio that he had held proficiently during the fourth administration,” said Zuma in a statement.
Gordhan and van Rooyen swapped positions with the later reshuffled to head the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) described the firing of van Rooyen and appointment of Gordhan as “a joke.”
“No amount of explanation can save the ANC from the embarrassment and the joke they have put the entire country through. The EFF calls for the immediate resignation of Zuma before he plunges the country into a deeper crisis,” said EFF spokesman, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
“Zuma is a humiliation and disaster for South Africa, who prioritises personal aspirations at the expense of the country. The ruling party should now appreciate that the country is more important than the personal interests of one individual,” added Ndlozi.
The Democratic Alliance also lashed out at Zuma.
“President Zuma has been playing Russian Roulette with our economy and future as a country over the past five days. Our currency has reached record lows, our banks have lost billions on the JSE and the confidence of investors and ratings agencies has plummeted,” said DA President Mmusi Maimane.
“The cost of Jacob Zuma to our country has now reached its ceiling. Our country cannot continue to be led by a flip-flopping President who has complete disregard for the well-being of the country and its citizens,” said Maimane.
The developments between Wednesday and Sunday evening saw the local currency plunge to US$1:R16 from R14,6.
“I strongly believe Zuma’s advisers are the ones to be expelled because they are the ones messing with the economy. It’s high time Zuma must see that he is surrounded by destructive advisers who are baying for his downfall,” said an economist.
– CAJ News
