Zuma ‘learned nothing from Nene’s firing’
Downgrade ‘will contribute to rise in joblessness’
Opposition parties were unanimous in blaming President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday for S&P Global Ratings’ downgrade of SA’s credit rating to junk status and called on him to resign. They said the downgrade was directly linked to Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle and the firing of former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, and it would contribute to slower economic growth, greater poverty and higher unemployment. Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said the downgrade could galvanise opposition to Zuma and could prove a tipping point, especially if it was followed by similar decisions, which are expected later this week, by the other ratings agencies. "I do think it will increase the political pressure on the president and it may give impetus to those who want to challenge him," Fikeni said. However, Zuma supporters in the leadership of the ANC might dig in and see the decision as "part of a plot". For citizens, the downgrade would mean more suffering and they could begin t...
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