When South Africans are hot under the collar they know how to rant. Political leaders started responding early this morning to President Jacob Zuma’s mega Cabinet reshuffle, which included the axing of the country's beloved Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. The announcement was officially made in the early hours of this morning.
Here are some of the most colourful reactions to it:
5. It is Parliament that hired Jacob Zuma and it is Parliament that can fire him.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane
4. I’m very uncomfortable because areas where ministers do not perform have not been touched. Ministers have been moved and the majority of them were good performing ministers. I’m very much uncomfortable with it.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe
3. The Cabinet reshuffle is a brazen attempt to undermine the gains of the liberation struggle by taking power away from the people and handing it over to a clique based in Dubai. It is therefore a Gupta coup and final confirmation – for those who needed it – that our president, our government and our country have been captured by compradors intent on destroying our democracy.
Save South Africa
2. The announcement confirmed our worst fears that the country has now been plunged into its biggest crisis since 1994. We now have a government with no credibility, one which has surrendered power to powerful crony capitalist factions and delivered a slap in the face of millions of South Africans.
the South African Federation of Trade Unions
And the best reaction to the reshuffle thus far?
1. We consider these changes ... an early April Fool’s joke. We believe he will wake up before it’s too late and redo the reshuffling – and fire all incompetent and useless people like Bathabile Dlamini, Faith Muthambi and Blade Nzimande. For now we consider this as an early April Fool’s game.
National Freedom Party head of communications Sabelo Sigudu