Zuma redeploys finance minister

The nation is in a state of shock after the presidency announced the redeployment of Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene on 9 December.

Jacob Zuma said that he would be moving Nene to another position.

“I have decided to remove Mr Nhlanhla Nene as Minister of Finance, ahead of his deployment to another strategic position,” said Zuma.

In his statement the President went on to say that Nene had done well since his appointment as Minister of Finance during a difficult economic climate and that Nene is respected both locally and abroad.

The greater shock is the appointment of unknown Member of Parliament, David van Rooyen. Van Rooyen is the former executive mayor of Merafong Municipality and a former North West provincial chairperson of the South African Local Government Association.

The new appointment has also brought mixed reviews from the public:

This tweet shows the utter disappointment in the ANCs decision,

Whatever the @MyANC_ is doing badly now, the @EconFreedomZA will do even worse, if they should ever come to power #justsaying #Nene

— Jan (@JanJanerJanste) December 10, 2015

This persons views are that the change was good idea.

Anyone out there think firing #Nene was a good idea? Please explain. #mostunpopulardecisionever

— Ⓥmegans heart (@meganshead) December 10, 2015

While this tweet seems to think that the president does not get the gravity of his actions.

https://twitter.com/Waldemar922/status/674827227389960192

Cope is less than impressed with the dramatic change the President announced and have said that they see it as an act of vengeance on the part of Zuma.

“Out of the blue, comes this announcement of Nene which will make the jittery market even more dubious about South Africa’s prospects of shifting economic gears and holding spending,” said Cope spokesperson, Dennis Bloem.

Bloem further stated that if South Africans were blasé up to now, that they should wake up to the fact that our government and our economy is in the very worst of hands.

“Nene must have been under immense pressure not to apply the fiscal brakes,” said Bloem.

Bloem labelled Van Rooyen as a backbencher that is taking over the most taxing job in South Africa. They believe that the country’s finances are not in the hands of someone who can inspire confidence.

“Zuma has shocked the nation with his new appointment,” concluded Bloem.

Meanwhile, this morning people took to Twitter expressing their thoughts about the decision. At present #ZumaMustFall is trending with concerns for the plummeting rand and questionable appointment.