Petition calling for Zuma’s resignation started in December last year is gaining traction again after last week’s debacle.
South African President Jacob Zuma apologised to his country on national television just before 8pm on Friday in the evening after a dramatic 36 hours that ended with him hanging onto power by a thread.
The day before his televised apology the country’s highest court, the Constitutional Court, ruled that Zuma had failed to “uphold, defend, respect” the Constitution. The court found that he had done this by refusing to accept that he should pay back a portion of the public money that was spent on security upgrades to his private homestead, Nkandla.
The judgment was widely, and rightly, celebrated as a victory for constitutional democracy and the Public Protector – South Africa’s ombud, established by the Constitution that was signed into law by then-President Nelson Mandela, 20 years ago.
For the time being at least, Zuma is not ready to relinquish power. With the ruling on the lawfulness of the decision to drop the corruption charges against him looming he still has too much to lose by giving up the Presidency.
But the hope of the people standing together is what might make the difference.
The petition has been dormant since the start of the year, largely due to the fact that arrangements were being made to hand over the petition to the correct people who can & will make a difference.
After Friday’s nation address, the petition started gaining traction again & being shared widely on social media.
A petition calling for President Jacob Zuma to resign has passed 180,000 signatures.
“Our unemployment has never been higher. Crime and corruption have become a standard. Government are pillaging our taxes & our economy is at a tipping point,” Brent Lindeque, who started the petition, said.
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The petition which was started just 2 days ago has been a trending topic on social media around the world.
“We need change. Hopefully, a petition can showcase how many people want change. The only reason politicians have power is because the people give it to them …”
Zuma is in the middle of a long and difficult week and perhaps with the help of collective thought & action, he may have to face the inevitable.
Enough of the corruption
Love this country, hate how it is burned to the ground by a useless president and his buddies looking after their own pockets
Enough with corruption
Guptas have succumbed to pressure. Jacobs must follow.