Jacob Zuma has sabotaged our economy, and the hopes of millions of South Africans, to benefit himself, his family and the Guptas.
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“This president is mishandling the presidency and he should leave office“, said Graham Fish, 62.
Ratings agency S&P Global also cited Gordhan’s exit as a major factor in its decision to downgrade South Africa’s credit rating on Monday, making it harder and more expensive for the country to borrow money on worldwide markets.
However, Moody’s on Monday night put SA’s local and foreign currency ratings on review for a downgrade, and is expected to announce its decision within 30 to 90 days.
His removal of Gordhan unleashed a fresh bout of criticism, as many South Africans and global investors saw the former minister as someone who fought corruption.
The largely peaceful protests in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town attracted a diverse mix of South Africans, but Zuma railed against those who participated.
“It is time we get rid of this man”. He is too corrupt.
Yes, struggle songs did not fill the streets of Joburg but, as a start toward really uniting people, the march did its job. “I voted for Nelson Mandela, but Maimane has a lot of integrity and he’s young”, protester Vanessa Michael, 54, from East Rand, told AFP. “Most black people are born in junk status so they aren’t bothered”.
She added that, she is concerned that war might break out with people fighting against government and appealed to government and the African National Congress (ANC) to take charge and recall the President.
But in recent years it has lost voter support and is now embroiled in internal struggles over the way forward. Members of the ANC party’s youth wing also gathered outside its headquarters at Luthuli House to shield it from protestors.
Zuma radically overhauled his cabinet last week to clear out many of his critics as he saw off an internal party rebellion. The party is accused of shielding corrupt leaders and being divided along factions.
“The agency believes that the cabinet reshuffle will further undermine the investment climate”. Downgrades by those rating companies would spark forced selling by investors who track debt indexes.
The anti-Zuma protests organised by civil society groups, religious orders, unions and political parties took place in all of South Africa’s major cities and towns, on a scale that has not been seen since the fight against apartheid during the 1980s.
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Save South Africa says that activism in the country needs to be maintained and that today’s events were just the beginning. A few other confrontations were reported as police sought to keep groups of the president’s supporters away from anti-Zuma rallies.
