A hero’s funeral, a controversial cabinet reshuffle and the country diminished to junk status. The events unfolded in quick succession for South Africa. Question is: what’s next?
The last week of March will not be forgotten in a hurry by South Africans. It was the week two big events – one tearful, the other tumultuous – unfolded in quick succession.
Just a day after the funeral of South Africa’s struggle hero Ahmed Kathrada, President Jacob Zuma shocked the nation with an unprecedented – and overnight – reshuffling of 15 cabinet ministers and deputy ministers.
Among those sacked were the country’s finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas, revered by many as incorruptible civil servants.
Not only did the President’s move vex his political party, the African National Congress (ANC), it rocked the country’s markets and the rand dipped over 6% overnight.
The whole saga unfolded when Zuma instructed Gordhan to abandon an investor road show he was attending in the United Kingdom.
This happened on Monday, March 27.
Three days later, at midnight, a cabinet reshuffle was announced by Zuma, sending shockwaves that reverberated throughout South Africa, and had social media abuzz.
Despite criticism from his political party and the opposition, Zuma with chutzpah said the reshuffling was an attempt to bring about radical socio-economic transformation and ensure the promise of a better life for the poor and working class becomes a reality.
The new ministers were sworn in Friday night after a failed bid by the Democratic Alliance (DA) to have the Cape Town court ruling against the swearing-in.
The most bizarre was the replacement of Gordhan with 45-year-old Malusi Gigaba, known as a Zuma loyalist.
This story is from the April-May 2017 edition of Forbes Woman Africa.
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This story is from the April-May 2017 edition of Forbes Woman Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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