Politics

'Now he's an expert?' Jacob Zuma's nuclear comments light up social media

Former president Jacob Zuma has again split opinions after claiming the current energy crisis could have been averted had South Africa gone ahead with a R1tn nuclear deal under his tenure.

The Pretoria high court has ruled that former president Jacob Zuma must return to prison. File picture.
The Pretoria high court has ruled that former president Jacob Zuma must return to prison. File picture. (Esa Alexander / Sunday Times)

Former president Jacob Zuma has again split opinions after claiming the current energy crisis could have been averted had South Africa gone ahead with a R1-trillion nuclear deal under his tenure.

Speaking to Business Day, Zuma said the proposed nuclear deal with Russia, which was a factor behind the firing of two finance ministers and subsequent market turmoil, would have prevented the country's energy crisis.

"The fact of the matter is nuclear could solve our problems, once and for all. Now we are in deep, we are therefore increasing the debt of the country with no hope to bring it down. That's a problem," he said.

South Africans have experienced rolling blackouts as power utility Eskom implemented stage 4 power cuts that have disrupted the day-to-day lives of South Africans.

Eskom said load-shedding would continue on Friday at stage 2 from 9am to 11pm, due to a capacity shortage. 

Social media users took to Twitter on Friday to weigh in on Zuma's comments.

Things were better under Zuma

It's all Zuma's fault

Was it going to be built overnight?

It would have made us slaves to the Russians

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