'Zuma must know that we are not sleeping' - Capetonians mobilise after #CabinetReshufle

31 March 2017 - 17:06
By Petru Saal
Capetonians made their feelings clear when they gathered outside Parliament against the president's cabinet reshuffle. File photo.
Image: Ruvan Boshoff Capetonians made their feelings clear when they gathered outside Parliament against the president's cabinet reshuffle. File photo.

Capetonians heeded calls to mobilise.

They gathered outside Parliament to voice their anger at President Jacob Zuma's decision to reshuffle his cabinet at midnight‚ including the firing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas.

Mark Haywood‚ spokesman for Save SA‚ called on all South Africans to join protests around the country.

  • Fresh from wielding his presidential axe‚ Zuma receives a warm welcome in MbizanaIt was almost as if Thursday's late-night cabinet reshuffle hadn't happened as President Jacob Zuma strode into a packed-to-capacity tent in the rural town of Mbizana in the Eastern Cape on Friday morning. 

The secretary general for the Social Justice Coalition‚ Phumeza Mlungwana‚ said: "We cannot let Zuma win‚ Zuma must know that we are not sleeping.

"We are concerned at how Zuma has treated the nation. Government is not his house to just shuffle around."

Sonke Gender Justice spokesperson Patrick Godana called the axing of Gordhan and Jonas ''an attack on our democracy''.

  • 'JZ has given our generation the greatest gift' - AKA defends Zuma's cabinet reshuffleRapper AKA has added his voice to the raging debate around President Jacob Zuma's cabinet reshuffle on Thursday night that has drawn fierce criticism from the nation. 

"The Guptas want to control treasury. He [Zuma] did this before and gave us a weekend special. The agenda was clear‚ all those opposed to Zuma must be removed‚" he said.

Actress Vinnette Ebrahim‚ of 7de Laan fame‚ joined the crowd to express her dissatisfaction. "It is important like bread and butter and the air we breathe to come to be here outside of Parliament.

  • ‘The reality is we are at a cross roads as a country’: Gordhan and Jonas speak after axingAxed finance minister Pravin Gordhan has called accusations that he was plotting against the state sickening. 

“We took to the streets in the Eighties and all citizens should be here [now]. It is time for us to rise and stand together‚" she said.

Safoudien Bester‚ chairman of the Runners for the Freedom of Palestine organisation said the ANC had betrayed the likes of Ahmed Kathrada‚ Joe Slovo and Walter Sisulu.

  • We'll blame Zuma if economy tanks‚ says ANC veteran Andrew MlangeniANC struggle stalwart Andrew Mlangeni said President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle was a cleverly disguised move aimed at firing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. 

He called on South Africans to stand together to stop the current ANC leaders and ''this vile dictatorship'' from continuing.