Mpofu blames junk status on Zuma voters, ‘but what about Malema?’

National chairperson of the EFF Dali Mpofu was reminded of Julius Malema’s once pro-Zuma stance when he blamed the latest junk status downgrade on people who voted the president to power.

This after Standard and Poor’s (S&P) placed South Africa’s credit outlook at junk status. The agency cited the latest changes to the country’s Cabinet reshuffle, in which Finance Minister and deputy Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas were sacked, as contributing factors.

Mpofu blamed the downgrade on people who voted for President Jacob Zuma even after 783 corruption charges against Zuma were dropped in 2009. The advocate was soon reminded that his leader and now biggest Zuma critic, Malema, once declared that he was ready to kill for Zuma.

“To those who voted for Zuma even AFTER Marikana, Nkandla, JZ783, Gupta, Nenegate, etc THANKS for ‘discovering’ he’s JUNK only after S&P told you so,” said Mpofu on Twitter, with Twitter user‏ @mobhiza replying: “Says the guy been lead by Malema…. Same guy who said would die for Zuma and helped him get into to power first time.. Get out of here.”

Removing ANC from power ‘only option’ 

The EFF said that the downgrade did “not come as a surprise”.

The party’s national spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, said we found ourselves in this situation because Zuma chose to put the business interests of the controversial family above those of the country. Therefore, the EFF argues, that removing ANC from power is the only option.

“We find ourselves in this situation because the ANC prioritised pleasing the market at the expense of meaningful redistributive economic policies. In addition, we are here Jacob  Zuma has elected to put the business interests of the Guptas above the interests of the country. 

“The Gupta capture of the Treasury by removal of finance minister without any sound reasons is the ultimate reason why we are now a junk status country. Zuma did this, not because he carries a radical economic vision for our country; but because he wanted access to treasury for his personal corrupt business interests. This is proven by the fact that the newly appointed finance minister, the incompetent Gigaba, has already told the country and the world that policies of the government will remain the same. 

“The only thing that will now save us is to remove the ANC out of power, which has lost control of Zuma.”

‘Cabinet cull has precipitated a crisis’ 

The DA has called on the national speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete to expedite the process of convening the vote of no confidence in the president.

The party has warned that “other ratings agencies are sure to follow suit” in downgrading the economy of the country, and that Mbete must speed up the process.

“Yesterday’s decision by Standard and Poors Global Ratings Services to downgrade South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to ‘junk status’ only emphasises the need for the Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleka Mbete, to reconvene Parliament immediately.

“President Zuma’s midnight Cabinet cull has precipitated a crisis and S&P has responded with a resounding vote of no confidence in the president and his new cabinet of lackeys. Other ratings agencies are sure to follow suit.

“One of Parliament’s key Constitutional functions is ‘scrutinising and overseeing executive action’ and holding the Executive to account. It is therefore incumbent on Mbete to call an urgent sitting of the House to debate the Motion of No Confidence proposed by the DA on 30 March. It is inconceivable that in a time of national crisis the lights remain off in the People’s Parliament.”