Trevor Manuel, Floyd Shivambu – exposing Guptas as puppeteers in #Nenegate
Former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel may hate to think so, but his open letter to City Press over the weekend supports the EFF's damning analysis of why President Jacob Zuma's fired Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. Manuel penned the letter to small business minister Lindiwe Zulu. But in reality he is attacking Zuma's leadership, airing growing disquiet within ANC members that the State has been hijacked by external puppet masters. Manuel doesn't mention the Gupta family by name, but asks pointed questions whose answers are sure to expose the back story to Zuma's indefensible decision. Like, why is Van Rooyen, a man outside the ANC's top 115 and one Manuel hardly noticed during years together on ANC benches, suddenly positioned as a "rising star"? Why did Van Rooyen's friends know months ago – and cabinet didn't – the underwhelming former mayor from the North West province was set for the big time? Who who appointed Van Rooyen's two "advisors" that accompanied him to Treasury a day after Zuma's blunder? The EFF's Floyd Shivambu answers these questions in his hard hitting analysis for the Daily Maverick. Shivambu argues that as with unknown new mining minister Mosebenzi Zwane, Van Rooyen's appointment was merely further confirmation that "South Africa is under the management of the Guptas". It is in the nature of any network of patronage that the one dispensing largesse be defended at all costs. So we shouldn't be surprised at Lindiwe Zulu's attack on the business community. In the limited understanding of her portfolio (she's a lifelong bureaucrat) Zulu believes had "business" supported Van Rooyen's appointment none of the fallout would have happened. Her idiocy was clearly a step too far for Manuel, who grew from a political activist with huge distrust of the market-based system into one of the most respected Finance Ministers anywhere. South Africa is fortunate to have the likes of Manuel and fellow ANC members Barbara Hogan, Ben Turok and Adam Habib who have called for Zuma's head. But a deeply entrenched patronage network doesn't unravel overnight,. As Lindiwe Zulu's spirited defence shows us, those who have gotten used to plundering the public purse won't leave the stage without a fight. Including Zuma. – Alec Hogg
By News24 Correspondent