“Malikanegate”: Time to fire Professor Chris Malikane immediately!
30 April 2017
The Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, must now act decisively and fire his economic advisor, Professor Chris Malikane, for suggesting that people “take up arms” to achieve “radical economic transformation” in South Africa.
The minister says that Professor Chris Malikane has been “reined in” and told to “keep quiet”. But Professor Chris Malikane says the minister cannot tell him to “keep his mouth shut”. Up until now, Professor Chris Malikane has made a fool of the minister by ignoring his instruction to “keep quiet”.
However, things have now come to a head: Professor Chris Malikane crossed a “red line” in our constitutional democracy when he pivoted from warning about “civil war” to calling for “civil war” in South Africa. Speaking at an event last night, Professor Chris Malikane reportedly suggested that people may have to “take up arms” to achieve “radical economic transformation” in South Africa.
The fact is that it is complete madness for the minister’s economic advisor to be allowed to suggest that people “take up arms” to achieve “radical economic transformation” in South Africa.