Here’s how South Africa’s politicians reacted to Zuma’s #CabinetReshuffle

South Africa and the world woke Friday to an entirely new political landscape forming at the bottom of the continent. Cabinet shuffles rarely happen in South African politics, but when they do, they send shockwaves across the country’s social and economic spheres.

Among the big moves made by President Jacob Zuma was firing previous finance minister Pravin Gordhan and deputy Mcebisi Jonas. South Africa wasn’t too happy about that.

But while ordinary citizens have made their views crystal clear on social media, politicians are now also joining in.

South Africa’s political debate flares on Twitter

Bathabile Dlamini has a relatively new Twitter account. However, no one can quite determine if it’s the minister’s official channel. Nevertheless, the account has some pretty strong views on the country’s latest game of political musical chairs.

“The only way President Zuma won’t be the president of RSA is if he resigns,” the account wrote. “Opposition parties must stop being clowns,” referencing the EFF’s visit to the Constitutional Court this week.

The only way President Zuma won’t be the president of RSA is if he resigns. Opposition parties must stop being clowns #ConCourt

— Bathabile Dlamini (@Batha_Dlamini) March 30, 2017

That tweet saw over 150 replies, and became a trending share on the social network early Thursday. Another tweet confirmed the account’s positive views on the reshuffle.

Shuffle and reshuffle Msholozi do what must be done! #cabinetreshuffle

— Bathabile Dlamini (@Batha_Dlamini) March 30, 2017

But not all ANC members were expressing the same warm sentiment towards Zuma’s move.

The ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu disagreed with the decision to axe the previous heads of the finance ministry, calling their crime their “incorruptibility”.

I disagree with the removal of Gordhan & Jonas based on a suspect intelligence report . Their committment to the NDR is unquestionable .

— Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) March 31, 2017

Pravin & Jonas will never sell their soul and country to foreign forces . That is plain rubbish . Their crime is their incorruptibility.

— Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) March 31, 2017

Their other crime is defence and protection of our public purse with highest levels of integrity and morality . We stand with them .

— Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) March 31, 2017

Collectively, Mthembu’s three tweets have seen over 1000 retweets.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has also expressed disdain in the wake of Gordhan’s axing.

Jessie Duarte, one of the ANC’s top six and the party’s deputy secretary general, explained that ministers who were axed from positions “cannot be seen as being lost to ANC”.

Congratulations to all the new minister appointed by the President. Ministers who lost their portfolios cannot be seen as being lost to ANC.

— Jessie Duarte (@ANCDSGDuarte) March 31, 2017

Oddly coincidental, she also preempted Mthembu’s tweet nearly two hours prior.

We may not agree with the President on the choices he has made, but ours is to rally behind these ministers and support them.

— Jessie Duarte (@ANCDSGDuarte) March 31, 2017

Other political figures saw the reshuffle as a chess match within the ANC itself. EFF leader Julius Malema noted that one ministers deployment makes “some sense”.

Ayanda Dlodlo’s appointment is the only one making some sense, the rest is the consolidation of factional battles ahead of December 2017

— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) March 31, 2017

Sticking with the EFF for a moment, #ThePeoplesBae Mbuyiseni Ndlozi drew comparisons to Malusi Gigaba’s appointment as finance minister, to Des van Rooyen’s fraught appointment back in late 2015.

“Gigaba is just a well known Van Rooyen,” he tweets.

Gigaba as Finance Minister is really not different to Weekend Special Van Rooyen. Difference is fame- Gigaba is just a well known Van Rooyen

— IG: @MbuyiseniNdlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 31, 2017

Gigaba & Mbalula are both a decade above the Youth Bracket – both turn 46 this year. So please, their appointment is no youth affirmation!

— IG: @MbuyiseniNdlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 31, 2017

But I know what you’re all thinking… how did South Africa’s previous minister of sport and rec-cum-minister of police Mbalula Fikile react to his reappointment?

Bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye

— Mbalula Fikile (@MbalulaFikile) March 31, 2017

And…

Bye bye bye bye bye twitter see you sooooon bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye.

— Mbalula Fikile (@MbalulaFikile) March 31, 2017

At the time of writing, #PravinGordhan, #McebisiJonas and #OccupyTreasury — a protest against the cabinet reshuffle taking place in Pretoria today — were all among South Africa’s most tweeted about topics.

Featured image: GovernmentZA via Flickr (CC 2.0, resized)