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| Nhlanhla Nene |
South Africa's President
Jacob Zuma has sacked Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene - moving him to another
"strategic position" not long after the country's credit rating was
downgraded.
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Trendsmap - #ZumaMustFall
is trending on Twitter in South Africa
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The
announcement has caused South Africa's currency the rand to fall close to a
record low.
BBC
Africa business reporter Lerato Mbele says that Mr Nene's attempt to rein in
spending may have unsettled some people loyal to the president.
Mr
Nene has been replaced by the relatively unknown David van Rooyen.
He
has been the chairperson of parliament's finance committee and before becoming
an MP was the mayor of Merafong, a town to the west of Johannesburg.
South
Africans have taken to social media to voice their unhappiness at the sacking
of respected Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Using
#ZumaMustFall, people are calling for the president to leave office. While
investors and markets reacted with shock to the news overnight, ordinary
citizens are demanding an explanation from the president's office on why Mr
Nene was removed from his position.
Mr
Nene has been at the forefront of cutting wasteful government spending and
trying to reduce South Africa's debt.
South
Africa's past three finance ministers were respected around the world, so
investors are jittery at the appointment of the little-known former mayor,
local analysts say.
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