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Shock, outrage over Nene axing

Cape Town - Fin24 users have reacted with shock and outrage to President Jacob Zuma's surprise announcement that Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene would be replaced with the largely unknown David van Rooyen, with many calling for the president to be removed instead of the respected Nene.

READ: LIVE: SA in for a rough ride - expert

Economists attribute Nene's abrupt removal from his post on Wednesday to purely political reasons. These include his reluctance to fund the R1trn nuclear programme, his inquiry into the squandering of funds at the SABC and his ruling against SAA in negotiations with Airbus.

READ: Nene's shock removal pure political play - economists

Fin24 user Fiona Craig says: "JZ is an unmitigated disaster that SA can no longer afford in the driver’s seat. His policies have always been heavily flawed as he is only interested in personal enrichment, but this latest move seems to be a descent into insanity." This proves the ANC has no interest in any principled person who acts against their 'blatant corruption'," says Craig.

Ntando Nonoise concurs: "It seems to me if you’re corrupt, you flourish in the ANC. However, if you are working towards a better country for the citizens of South Africa, you are an outcast. It is high time Zuma is fired and put in a strategic position - in a court of law!"

Frances Levey asks: "Who is pulling Zuma’s strings? I am appalled. Zuma MUST GO."

Jannie has an urgent message for the country's politicians: "To all politicians out there with any sense, no matter which political party you are affiliated to, set aside your differences and ensure that Zuma is recalled as president!"

South Africa cannot afford Zuma to be in charge any more, says Jannie: "He is running the country like it is his own spaza shop on the corner."

Keagan Adams is concerned over the financial implications of Zuma's move. He says too much money is being wasted, and it is sad that "the one man that had some control over the ridiculous spending and wastage of the government has now be relieved of his duties".
 
"Mr Nene was the reason for the hold on the nuclear deal. He was also the hold on the bailout of SAA (not sure why they are still running). The reason for this action is quite simply to have the next budget speech include the go-ahead with this expensive spending, and have the taxpayers on their knees."

South Africans 'being choked to death'

Poor people will bear the brunt of the move, and investors are being scared off on a daily basis, says Adams. "If South Africans have to tighten their belts any further, they might as well choke themselves to death. That is basically what will happen."

Jeremy Rowse raises concern over the business implications of Nene's dismissal. "I share the outrage of all sensible South Africans to the outrageous sacking of Nene. I’m sure that they also share my sense of impotence in being able to do something about it."

Rowse asks if, as a customer of Santam, Absa, Nedbank, Liberty, MTN among others, he has the right "to expect them to express publicly their distaste with this latest attack on business".

Antonette Strydom questions new incumbent Van Rooyen's competency: "With a ‘Certificate in Economic & Public Finance’ is all you need to be in charge of the Finance of our country? #Justasking."

South Africa is heading for the same road as Zimbabwe, warns Pooven Govender. Nene's sacking is another tactic by Zuma to defraud the public, and the ANC won't act against him "because they are all corrupt".

He adds: "I think it's time the people of SA stand up and boycott Zuma and ANC because if we do not do anything we're going to be headed towards another Zimbabwe."

"This is very shocking and disturbing," says Pierre Malan. "Yes, Nene was fired by Zuma but as an instrument of the ANC it really tells us that the ruling party has fallen to his level and that nobody in the ANC can stop this man from his accelerated plunder." The country and its "wonderful people" deserve better, concludes Malan.

Sue Bishop, who calls herself "just a tax paying widow", says Nene's dismissal is "shocking news" and agrees with Malan's view. "Our democracy is now a dictatorship. Keep the people poor and you keep the power. ANC and Zuma must go before we become a 2nd Zimbabwe."

Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on Fin24 have been independently written by members of the Fin24 community. The views of users published on Fin24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent those of Fin24.

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