‘JACOB ZUMA FACES A CHALLENGING 2016’
Next year’s local government elections will test the ANC’s strength with President Zuma at the helm.
Rahima Essop
Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - President Jacob Zuma, who has been widely blamed for last week’s markets meltdown, is facing a challenging year ahead.
Political analyst Professor Somadoda Fikeni warns should the African National Congress (ANC) lose major ground in the local government elections, Zuma will probably be blamed.
The President sparked outrage and major criticism from various quarters, including big business and the public, last week when he fired then finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Thousands took to the streets in several cities two days ago, demanding he be removed
Next year’s local government elections will test the ANC’s strength with President Zuma at the helm.
Fikeni predicts it will be a challenging year for Zuma.
“There is a risk of losing one or two of them if the ANC doesn’t do well and that is most likely to be blamed on him.”
He says the struggling economy, credit rating downgrades and a weak currency are piling on the pressure.
“The opposition will see him as more vulnerable now. Some of the ANC leaders, who may feel he is not consulting them, may not be as enthusiastic in defending him. All those things come at a time when prospects of being a lame duck president is very high as we make transition to the new ANC president.”
A special Cabinet meeting on the economy will take place in January after it was cancelled today.
The session will discuss and review the Nine Point Plan announced by the president during his State of the Nation Address in February.
(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)
Rahima Essop
Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - President Jacob Zuma, who has been widely blamed for last week’s markets meltdown, is facing a challenging year ahead.
Political analyst Professor Somadoda Fikeni warns should the African National Congress (ANC) lose major ground in the local government elections, Zuma will probably be blamed.
The President sparked outrage and major criticism from various quarters, including big business and the public, last week when he fired then finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Thousands took to the streets in several cities two days ago, demanding he be removed
Next year’s local government elections will test the ANC’s strength with President Zuma at the helm.
Fikeni predicts it will be a challenging year for Zuma.
“There is a risk of losing one or two of them if the ANC doesn’t do well and that is most likely to be blamed on him.”
He says the struggling economy, credit rating downgrades and a weak currency are piling on the pressure.
“The opposition will see him as more vulnerable now. Some of the ANC leaders, who may feel he is not consulting them, may not be as enthusiastic in defending him. All those things come at a time when prospects of being a lame duck president is very high as we make transition to the new ANC president.”
A special Cabinet meeting on the economy will take place in January after it was cancelled today.
The session will discuss and review the Nine Point Plan announced by the president during his State of the Nation Address in February.
(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)
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