Residents gathered outside the Constitutional Court on Monday, demanding an end to what they allege is the manipulation of the rand and calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down.
The protest, which began byvyoung people as a social media campaign, highlights a long-running case in which the Competition Commission claims that credit ratings agencies colluded with banks to manipulate South Africa’s currency. The case has been in and out of court for nearly a decade, raising public concerns about transparency, accountability, and economic fairness.
Lunga Ngubane, a resident from the West Rand, told Newsnote that the alleged manipulation disproportionately harms poorer South Africans.
“We cannot afford anything because of rand manipulation. When you are working, you can only afford to buy a car, not even a house,” she said.
“Most of us here live in RDP houses, and some of us can’t even qualify for them.”
Soweto resident Dineo Mailula also voiced frustration over a lack of accountability at the highest levels.
“He doesn’t care about us. He was found to have hidden money on his farm what was done with that?” she asked, referring to the President.
Mailula also criticised National Prosecuting Authority Head Shamila Patohi for failing to provide clarity during last week’s ad-hoc committee hearings on the Phala-Phala scandal.
“She couldn’t give a direction on what should happen about the findings.”
She said the recommendations form Madlanga Commission must implemented if not it will be waste of taxpayers money.
“Arrsted should have happened already, NPA should have done that long ago before the commission.”
Lebo Moyane said the protest was important to bring awareness to the public.
“About 80% of the people that see us they ask what’s going on ae tell them the rans was supposed to be R7 to a dollar but it is R19,” he said.
