Embattled President Jacob Zuma is facing a rising tide over his sacking of Nhlanhla Nene, with the ANC’s alliance partners, opposition parties and the public revolting against him.Two marches have been planned, an online petition started and a hashtag #ZumaMustFall has been trending since Zuma replaced Nene with David van Rooyen this week in a move that shocked the country and rattled the markets.
The first demonstration, planned by unknown people, is set to take place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday while the second one, arranged by DA leader Mmusi Maimane, is expected to take place on January 27 in Johannesburg.
On Saturday, Brent Lindeque, the man behind the online petition calling for Zuma’s removal, said it had more than 100 000 signatories already.
“I believe in active citizenship. On Thursday, I didn’t want to join the social media side and just create another hashtag,” Lindeque said.
He said he addressed the petition to Thuli Madonsela, rather than speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete, because the public protector is the only person who has been “consistently fighting for the people”.
Lindeque said he ignored Mbete because “I don’t believe that she has the people’s best interests at heart. If you look at what happened in parliament, the speaker is not consistently on the people’s side”.
The EFF and DA said they would not be part of Wednesday’s march because they have not been invited, had no idea who the organisers were and what their agenda was.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party would decide whether to be part of the march or not if and when it’s approached.
“As for now, we don’t know anything. We don’t even know who the organisers are. It will not be responsible. There is not even a name of an organisation,” he said.
Maimane said while DA members were free to take part in the Union Buildings march, the party would not be there officially. Instead, it would reserve its energy and resources for its January march.
“We are saying on January 27 in Johannesburg, let the people come together because the decisions of president Zuma have dire consequences for the people who are without work. It’s not just about the issue of the rand and bond markets,” said Maimane.
This week, Cosatu released a lukewarm statement saying it was “shocked” by Nene’s sacking.
“Minister Nene’s tenure was very short and the economic sector does not cope well with abrupt and unqualified changes,” Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla said.
As for the ANC, Luthuli House merely — and usually — just noted and respected Zuma’s decision. It said Zuma had “exercised his constitutional prerogative to appoint a new minister who we believe has what it takes to lead the ministry.”
Zuma faces uprising over Nene sacking
Two marches have been planned, an online petition started and a hashtag #ZumaMustFall has been trending since Zuma replaced Nene with David van Rooyen this week in a move that shocked the country and rattled the markets.
The first demonstration, planned by unknown people, is set to take place at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday while the second one, arranged by DA leader Mmusi Maimane, is expected to take place on January 27 in Johannesburg.
On Saturday, Brent Lindeque, the man behind the online petition calling for Zuma’s removal, said it had more than 100 000 signatories already.
“I believe in active citizenship. On Thursday, I didn’t want to join the social media side and just create another hashtag,” Lindeque said.
He said he addressed the petition to Thuli Madonsela, rather than speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete, because the public protector is the only person who has been “consistently fighting for the people”.
Lindeque said he ignored Mbete because “I don’t believe that she has the people’s best interests at heart. If you look at what happened in parliament, the speaker is not consistently on the people’s side”.
The EFF and DA said they would not be part of Wednesday’s march because they have not been invited, had no idea who the organisers were and what their agenda was.
EFF spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party would decide whether to be part of the march or not if and when it’s approached.
“As for now, we don’t know anything. We don’t even know who the organisers are. It will not be responsible. There is not even a name of an organisation,” he said.
Maimane said while DA members were free to take part in the Union Buildings march, the party would not be there officially. Instead, it would reserve its energy and resources for its January march.
“We are saying on January 27 in Johannesburg, let the people come together because the decisions of president Zuma have dire consequences for the people who are without work. It’s not just about the issue of the rand and bond markets,” said Maimane.
This week, Cosatu released a lukewarm statement saying it was “shocked” by Nene’s sacking.
“Minister Nene’s tenure was very short and the economic sector does not cope well with abrupt and unqualified changes,” Cosatu spokesman Sizwe Pamla said.
As for the ANC, Luthuli House merely — and usually — just noted and respected Zuma’s decision. It said Zuma had “exercised his constitutional prerogative to appoint a new minister who we believe has what it takes to lead the ministry.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos