South African president Jacob Zuma is facing growing calls to resign after his shock decision to remove the country’s popular finance minister from office.

On Friday, more than 66,000 people had signed a petition telling Zuma to step down, with thousands taking to social media to voice their support for ousted Nhlanhla Nene.

The shock move prompted the value of the South African rand to plunge, as the markets signalled their lack of confidence in the president’s decision.

BREAKING!! South African Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has been "Re-Deployed" and is replaced by David van Rooyen. — Thabiso Sithole (@ThabisoSithole) December 9, 2015

For ordinary South Africans the dismissal of the respected politician – one of the few relatively untainted by the corruption scandals that have dogged the ANC – signified dubious political manoeuvring.

“This is a sign our president is playing chess – making moves that’s going to benefit him alone,” said Sifiso Sithole, a 38-year-old freelancer from Johannesburg.

“I’m saying Zuma must fall,” added Sithole, echoing the #ZumaMustFall hashtag that has dominated social media since the announcement.

The silver lining in government has always been the Finance Minister, and now even that is gone. Sad. — Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) December 9, 2015

I never agreed with Nene policies inherited from GEAR framework but one thing I know about him is that he an honest man - not a thief — Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) December 9, 2015

Rumours

Zuma courted further controversy when he refused to justify his decision. As a result, many South Africans have been sharing their own suspicions about what was behind the move.

Mpilo Zondi, a 33-year-old student, said he was surprised by the announcement and wondered whether it was influenced by the president’s rumoured relationship with South African Airways chairperson, Dudu Myeni.

Last week, Nene and the treasury blocked Myeni’s proposal to finance new Airbus planes through a local third-party lease, a proposal the treasury said would incur billions and breach the Public Finance Management Act.

But because Myeni chairs the president’s charitable Jacob G Zuma Foundation and is reported to be closely linked to the president, she is thought to be untouchable.

So Nhlanhla Nene has been fired! Hope there no connection with a strong stance he took on SAA saga - can't help but speculate about that — Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) December 9, 2015

“[Zuma is] really out of touch with the people on the ground. He only thinks of himself,” Zondi said, adding that the new minister would merely be “a yes man”.

Others suggested Nene’s removal would help ease the way for the massive, but controversial, Russian nuclear power deal:

Hashtags

Following 12 months of protests in South Africa, which saw the toppling of the Cecil Rhodes statue at the University of Cape Town after the #RhodesMustFall movement, and later the mass movement against a rise in tuition costs under #FeesMustFall, now Zuma is being treated to his own hashtag.

A declaration of a crises indeed, his party must now remove him. #ZumaMustFall — Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) December 9, 2015

In conclusion: it's time that we fire Jacob Zuma. #ZumaMustFall — Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) December 9, 2015

“For me, Nhlanhla Nene was cool. I’m just wondering to myself, why did Mr President Zuma do that?” asked George Nkuna, 31.

Nkuna questioned the new finance minister David Van Rooyen’s experience and wondered whether he, too, could be parachuted into a ministerial post. “I’ll tell you what, I’m not happy with Mr President, what he’s done.”

A version of this article first appeared on Daily Maverick