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Jacob Zuma as finance minister? Not everyone is laughing
While most see the idea of the former president as finance minister as a joke, some appear to be taking it a bit more seriously.
Popular Twitter parody account @AdvBarryRoux on Tuesday morning tweeted a presumably Photoshopped picture of a television screen showing a SABC News anchor with the caption “Former President Jacob Zuma to be sworn in as new finance minister”.
The story was also carried by Mzansi Stories, a website known for publishing news which is often either partly or entirely fake.
Jacob Zuma pic.twitter.com/Bm9I8PxAPY
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) October 9, 2018
Most Twitter users took this as the joke it almost certainly is, adding their own humorous responses.
petrol price is gonna be (twenty rands, four fifty cents and onety one rands) pic.twitter.com/mToFhZY1LU
— Nyeleti (@Nyeleti_798) October 9, 2018
His muthi is really working this guy pic.twitter.com/HuTK1HLspf
— mohananwa🇿🇦 (@chrismokami) October 9, 2018
Get out of here🤔 pic.twitter.com/XDKTFvfxxW
— Samu🇿🇦 (@Skay_Mtwa) October 9, 2018
But a few Twitter users appear to have been fallen for the story.
Guys is the Zuma finance minister story true?
— 🌍🤴🏾 (@Ckura_) October 9, 2018
Jacob Zuma finance minister 😳😳
— PUNCHUNUNU🌻 (@Promisesara) October 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/LadyMo_Lesh/status/1049552763955412992
And one Twitter user even appears to think Zuma as finance minister would be a good idea.
Jacob Zuma, finance minister? Amen.
— Sir Levy (@Levytheblessing) October 9, 2018
Zuma is not the only name who has been bandied about, whether authentically or not, as a replacement for finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
The Citizen reported on Monday that in the days following a dip in confidence about Nene’s character, there has been a lot of speculation about how long the minister will remain in his position.
Nene’s reputation took a knock after he admitted to having met with the Guptas several times while deputy finance minister, something he had previously denied.
Then, the finance minister was met with further controversy after his role in a deal involving his son while Nene was chairperson of the PIC (Public Investment Corporation) has been probed following the release of a Mail & Guardian report.
READ MORE: Nene’s image takes further knock as his role in son’s business deal probed
The assumption was that he would be fired but he surprised everyone by asking to be relieved of his duties.
This has left the nation wondering who will be appointed to the role of South Africa’s new finance minister.
A recent Fin24 article saw Ferial Haffajee tapping MEC for finance in Gauteng Barbara Creecy and deputy finance minister Mondli Gungubele as Nene’s possible successors with Creecy leading as the “fan favourite”.
The idea of Creecy as finance minister also sparked much discussion online.
Additional reporting by Kaunda Selisho
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