Positive sentiment slides on Twitter after news of imminent arrest of #PravinGordhan
As the rand took a dive over a fear that Finance Minster Pravin Gordhan faced arrest in an escalation of the “Sars Wars”‚ so too did positive sentiment on social media.
#PravinGordhan was the top-trending topic on Twitter on Wednesday as the currency slid against the dollar in the morning‚ extending its sharp overnight losses after the Treasury confirmed the receipt of a letter from the Hawks‚ asking Gordhan to present himself to the Hawks on Thursday morning.
>https://twitter.com/Sthathi/status/768352418094522368?lang=enFour former South African Revenue Service officials are said to have been similarly summoned.
Ntate Tsotetsi ?@Sthathi felt Gordhan should face the music‚ but took aim at the African National Congress’ perceived protection of its leader: “To #ANC Paid Twitter #PravinGordhan must face the law like everyone else but when it comes Zuma charges he must be protected at all cost.”
Khuphukani Ncama ?@NcamaKC took a similar tack‚ but also referenced the party’s poor municipal poll showing: #PravinGordhan this is just a act of those who live in Zumaplanet try to shift. attention of dismally poor polls outcome...”
>https://twitter.com/NcamaKC/status/768358133731319808?lang=enMRA ?@MRAmogalakwena took this further‚ and suggested the ANC must be punished in the national elections in three years’ time: “South African must vote @MYANC out come 2019 to save treasury from Zuma’s mafias #PravinGordhan”.
>https://twitter.com/MRAmogalakwena/status/768357995684175872?lang=enSouth African ?@agentmampara also had words for the ruling party: “Jacob Zuma and the ANC don’t care a damn for this country! #ANC #PravinGordhan #Hawks”.
>https://twitter.com/IamCubeSOUL/status/768358168032403456?lang=enMmaphiri ?@DaisyMDO said Gordhan himself saw this coming: “#PravinGordhan he already had doubts early in the year if he would b in postn by October now a ill over a month 2 go this happens”.
>https://twitter.com/DaisyMDO/status/768358383095119872?lang=enShawn Nonkunzi-Mtibe ?@sms–mtibe lamented that a man of Gordhan’s talents was being targeted: “#PravinGordhan the only Minister who has the ability to change our economic system is the one being crucified. Kanti what is right with ANC?”
>https://twitter.com/sms_mtibe/status/768358292041138176Kemet2Zulu ?@kizobantu saw his savings going up in smoke: “If the Hawks charge #PravinGordhan then you might as well do this with your money...save the Rand‚ #StandUp4Pravin”.
>https://twitter.com/kizobantu/status/768358084540588032?lang=enDaniel Silke ?@DanielSilke also focused on the currency’s worth: “In less than 24 hours‚ all the benefits of a rising Rand have been negated by the return of political risk & in #SouthAfrica. #PravinGordhan”.
>https://twitter.com/DanielSilke/status/768357902973304832?lang=en