Abstract
<p>The paper is a continuation of a research article published in the same journal in the month of March, 2016. A new dimension has now entered the equation in terms of the fiscal and economic quagmire and, crisis that, South Africa is confronted with. The paper argues President Jacob Zuma’s (South African President) Machiavellian tendencies in respect of moving from one blunder to another by removing the capable and performing Minister of Finance, Nene and replacing him with a novice in the form of David Desmond van Rooyen, a Parliamentary backbencher, and without any tangible experience. Former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was recalled as Finance Minister having served in this position from May 2009 to May 2014. This was a blunder of gigantic proportions. South Africa therefore had three Ministers of Finance within one week. The paper will attempt to unpack these and many other issues in this article which adds to the woes of South Africa’s economic and fiscal crisis. Technically, the paper will argue that the Machiavellian President scorns the economy and, is obsessed with power at any cost.</p>
Highlights
Background and IntroductionIn a developing story in the media as breaking news (2015: 21 – 48), the President fired a performing Minister of Finance who had served in this capacity for 18 months only and, was Deputy Finance Minister for five years, under the recalled former Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan
Nene the fired Finance Minister was replaced for only four days by a complete backbencher and novice and, suddenly moved to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as Minister, a position occupied by Pravin Gordhan the new Finance Minister
Nene tried to rein in recklessness at South African Airways (SAA), downplayed any excitement around the proposed nuclear build – was he too independent is the question? Was he too much of an obstacle when the need arose to miraculously find money for political decisions? There are rumours that, the strategic position Zuma mentioned in sacking Nene is a job at the Brics bank, but this is neither confirmed, nor logical by our Machiavellian President? Why risk chaos in the local fiscus to benefit a multinational bank? Zuma has done it again
Summary
Background and IntroductionIn a developing story in the media as breaking news (2015: 21 – 48), the President fired a performing Minister of Finance who had served in this capacity for 18 months only and, was Deputy Finance Minister for five years, under the recalled former Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan. “The perception in South Africa is that the reason for firing Nene was that he was doing his job well in difficult economic times, insisting on fiscal discipline,” according to the Centre for the Study of Democracy (2015). Sarah Wild (2015: 13) says that the president of South Africa is “toxic”, someone who engages in behaviour that is harmful to the organization (The Republic of South Africa), including either its property or people It causes market fear, low morale, major costs, turnover and loss of legitimacy among external and internal stakeholders.”. Low morale, major costs, turnover and loss of legitimacy among external and internal stakeholders.” This is what the President of South Africa has achieved in respect to his decisions. Sarah Wild (2015: 13) states that “There is strong evidence that Machiavellianism leads to deviant behaviour.”
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