CAPE TOWN – Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene has reportedly asked President Cyril Ramaphosa via a phone call to be let go as the minister of finance.
According to multiple reports, many political parties have put Nene under pressure over his testimony at the commission of inquiry into state capture, where he admitted that he attended a number of meetings with the controversial Gupta family at their Saxonworld home and businesses in Midrand.
As the news broke, South Africans took to Twitter under the #Nene to express their concerns but emotions towards the news were mixed.
Some people said that they would be happy if Nene left because they did not trust him and believe that he should have come clean sooner. However, others do sympathise with him as well.
Here are what they had to say:
Lesson to all . Nene cannot be trusted
— #StateCaptureSA (@morubulaZA) October 8, 2018
What a load of crap- #Nene and #StateCapture plenty other ministers need to resign before he does. The ANC keeps anyone and everyone- no accountability ever! Why start now?
— Debbie Bennetts (@Markbennetts) October 8, 2018
Whats funny about the whole #Nene saga is that he calls the president and ask him to "Release" him... why can't he simply resign! 🤣🤣
— MĴay (@JerryBouwer1) October 8, 2018
#NENE may have lied, but #gigupta #gigaba lies under oath... your move @CyrilRamaphosa
— anton baumann (@_Anton_Baumann_) October 8, 2018
I think we should rather ask if it was anyone else either than Nene, who failed to disclose his dealings with the Guptas, how would would the law handle it, how has it handles it so far? 🧐
— ✽̤̈•Ramsey✽̤̈• (@RamseyS_Leutle) October 8, 2018
So the phone call between Nene and Cyril were on speakerphone? That explains how everyone heard he offered to resign. pic.twitter.com/KRdlfsrBxW
— Janari Korana (@Derrick_67) October 8, 2018
I differ. Nene has still not told us why he lied. He still has not told us what was discussed and what was demanded/expected from him. We know what was demanded of Jonas and others. It will also be interesting why he kept quite for so long. Principle above personality.
— Siyabonga (@TitiSiyabonga) October 8, 2018
According to the so called analysts, the rand could fall below R15/$ if President Cyril Ramaphosa accepts Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s resignation.
It's TRUE the rand has favourites 😅
— The Diplomat (@Benji_Seitlhamo) October 8, 2018
And if Nene resigns, how about the others who are way more guilty? Dlamini, Mthumbi, Gigaba, Zwane to name a few.
— Seamack (@clivemcgill) October 8, 2018
The irony of the Zuma supporters saying Nhlanhla Nene should resign because he met the Guptas, without even realising that they are directly admitting that Zuma is also corrupt. On the same breathe, they ask: wenzeni uZuma?
Kodwa qhubekani.
— Ms_Gupta🇿🇦 (@African_Spring) October 8, 2018
If you are a loyal South African you would understand that NOW is the worst time for Nene to go. Use your influence to go after the people YOU supported in the ANC. They are the real thieves. Nene is a decoy #nenemuststay
— Giuliana Martini (@giulianamartini) October 8, 2018
Do you think that President Cyril Ramaphosa should replace South Africa's Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene? #FinanceMinister #NhlanhlaNene #CyrilRamaphosa
— Business Report (@busrep) October 8, 2018