Good reasons to recall JZ
YET more catastrophe was unleashed upon SA when President Jacob Zuma irrationally reshuffled the cabinet. South Africans from all walks of life, across race lines, have experienced extreme emotions ranging from hope that Zuma would finally be recalled, and despair when the ANC retreated into a laager mentality – see, hear and speak no evil. Almost every day since then some event happens or utterance is made by Zuma or one of his cronies, that leaves us shaking our heads in disbelief.
Some in Zuma’s circle mocked SA’s downgrade to junk status. Let the following be clear:
● The wealthy have a buffer against the economic hardships that will arise. Their lives will probably change the least;
● The financial pressure on the middle class will increase as they battle to keep up with rising debt (like car loans and housing mortgages) and service and food prices. This may be exacerbated by job losses;
● The already poverty stricken, those living in shacks without basic services, surviving on social grants and mostly unemployed, will suffer the most. These vast numbers of people will go from poor to destitute. Many more will go hungry;
● Treasury will find its revenue – taxes from business and those lucky enough to be employed – shrinking. Thus government will not be able to offer extra help to those desperately in need. Nor will the government find it easy to stimulate the economy and create employment. Lack of foreign investment and higher interest rates on the country’s debt repayments will further exacerbate the pressure on the fiscus.
Do not believe the Zuma government’s talk of radical economic transformation. Even if there was serious commitment in this regard, there is no funding to finance it. These realities are dire.
Last weekend the Sunday Times reported that Brian Molefe, who voluntarily resigned as CEO of Eskom after 18 months of service, was paid out R31.1 million on March 23. In company documents seen by the Sunday Times, this payment is variously described as a pension benefit or separation/severance payment.
But if this really was a pension payout, he would have had to be earning R243-million annually. His annual salary package was in fact, R8-million.
Who cares what label is used to describe this truly obscene looting. Fellow South Africans, this is an example of the Zuma government’s approach to “radical economic transformation”.
Such transformation is for select members of the political elite. This giggling, greedy, corrupt, morally bankrupt president must be recalled. This will not be a panacea for all SA’s problems and the battle to reclaim financial stability, but it is the logical first step. — Joyce Miles, East London
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma celebrated his 75th birthday whilst so many South Africans were up in arms, wanting him to step down. People of all races marched together to express their concern about the current direction the government is taking.
Yet Zuma responded by labelling marchers as “racist” and said stress was only for white people.
The ANC government has been in charge for more than two decades but it seems that our president is now set on blaming every problem on white people and so-called “white monopoly capital”.
The country is in turmoil and has been reduced to junk status for investors. Blaming the previous regime won’t solve the lack of economic growth and other present problems.
Zuma must do what is best for the citizens and step down. The country has suffered enough setbacks under his presidency. The burden has become too enormous for the people to bear. Nobody wants South Africa to be another Zimbabwe. Mzantsi is loved by all who live here. — Roy Donovan, East London