ZUMA MUST FALL

ZUMA MUST FALL

The latest controversy is the ever falling rand that resulted from President Jacob Zuma's indecision. His ridiculous   move to change three finance ministers in one week upset the masses, so much so, that they took to the streets  of Cape Town and Johannesburg protesting. Protesters gathered in front of Parliament and in the Company Gardens  Cape Town and at the Union buildings to show their support for the #ZumaMustFall movement with 151 000 signatories trending on twitter.  Thousand upon thousand with placards in hand demanded the removal of Jacob Zuma and chanting  Zuma Must Fall. 

The masses protesting against President Zuma

The 73 year old president cost the South African economy close to R2 176 230 000 000, which I'm certain he can't even enunciate. The South African foreign debt jumped to  38.2% and is at its  highest since 1980's. Yet, President Jacob Zuma was willing to spend additional Billions of Rands on nuclear reactors from which he would financially benefit before his term as president ends. And spend several billions more on bailout for South African Airways [SAA] run by his girlfriend Dudu Myeni for new jets, not to mention the 4 billion on his luxurious  personal and jet.  

This is what Zuma's 4 Billion Rand Private Jet looks like.

Although he already spent R 250 Million  on Nkandla, his private residence. To crown it all, when Nhlanhla Nene refused to give financial guarantees and declined to grant Zuma’s staff exemptions for using expensive hotels and flying first class, Jacob Zuma fired his ass and replaced him with his "yes man" David van Rooyen. In the last State of the Nation address, Zuma promised 1 million jobs. He over promised and under delivered by more than half, failing the poor and  the working class and South Africans as a whole. This Zuma styled unity and democracy, is certainly not the kind of unity and democracy envisioned by the late Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and our beloved Madiba, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

President Jacob Zuma has been playing Russian Roulette with the South African economy during his term of office causing irreparable harm, yet the ANC condemned the #ZUMAMUSTFALL marches, saying they go against the spirit of reconciliation even though the Day of Reconciliation commenced with inter party animosity. Instead of dropping Zuma like a hot potato as they should, the ANC executive supported Zuma despite the party losing  more public support than at anytime during their history. From this it is quite evident that Zuma will remain as president until the next elections and the ANC will do their utmost to milk black sympathy by constantly reminding its voters about the apartheid struggle. 

A huge flag tied to table mountain below the cable car - saying ZUMA MUST FALL

The ANC spokesperson Kodwa, accused former Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille of using Reconciliation Day to engage in partisan politics and trivialise the significance of nation building. But the DA's underlying message remained "no reconciliation with corruption".  Zwelinzima Vavi, former Cosatu General-Secretary warned that South Africa could become the next Zimbabwe if President Jacob Zuma isn't stopped from usurping the coffers. Julius Malema, EFF leader whose been picketing "pay back the money" predicted  that President Zuma won't not make it to next year's State of the Nation Address, even though he swore allegence to JZ. 

Students protesting outside the Union Buildings Pretoria.

THREE FINANCE MINSTERS IN ONE WEEK

R4 billion jet crashed South African economy

Something as ridiculous as going through Pravin Gordhan can only happen in South Africa. Yep, never mind the consequences to poor South Africans and the business sector, especially importers because the ZAR just got flushed down the toilet for the n~th time since the "ousting of apartheid." Over the past four years the the Rand has lost so much value that it's starting to resemble the free fall of the Zimbabwean Dollar under  Robert Mugabe's presidency.

South Africa as a whole is still reeling from this ridiculous move made by President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, who reshuffled his cabinet for the second time in five days. After appointing  unknown lawmaker David van Rooyen and axing Nhlanhla Nene on Wednesday the rand tumbled to a historic low and bond yields jumped to the highest point they have ever been in seven years. This appointment gave the global community a sense of insecurity making them feel their investment in South Africa is turning sour hence they disinvested as fast as the river Nile flows during a flash flood. Forced by the market reaction and that of South Africans from all sectors including fellow politicians within the ANC. Jacob Zuma reconsidered the folly of his decision and hastily reappointed Pravin Gordhan as Finance Minister. As a consequence the rand  immediately improved after a week of market turmoil which triggered the  #zumamustfall campaign, as well as a planned march with a petition to remove the president from power.

President Zuma  is panicking beyond comprehension because his whim was in fact political suicide leaving him more vulnerable than ever for bringing South Africa on the bring of a recession. His political wrangling arose over a planned nuclear deal and questionable spending at the struggling national airline carrier. And there is speculation that Zuma axed Nene because of his refusal to approve the purchase of new Airbus jets  from airline chairwoman, Dudu Myeni, who was known to be a close ally of President Zuma.

However, the South African Rand firmed by as little as one Rand closing of R15.88 which is nowhere near to what it was before 2011. I distinctly remember a time when the 1 ZAR was worth 2 USD but since we've had 5 presidents. It appears that tribalism is beyond good governance seeing  that  JZ was elected into office not because he was the best man for the job but that it was the Msholozi clan's turn to lead the people of South Africa even though he had no formal education as a child.