For those whose job it is to see the political wood for the trees, the removal by President Jacob Zuma of the highly regarded finance pairing of Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas became the immediate subject for close scrutiny and painstaking analysis. No matter the capabilities of their replacements – Malusi Gigaba (right) and Sfiso Buthelezi – Zuma’s roguelike reshuffle robbed both men of the credibility they needed to reassure investors and ratings agencies alike. The result? An immediate rebuke in the form of a downgrade to junk.