The costly drama between Jacob Zuma and Pravin Gordhan has started, again. It was clearly suspended due to the municipal elections.

The letter sent by the Hawks to Gordhan last week, instructing him to present himself to the Hawks, is part of Zuma's smoky attempts to get rid of Gordhan. Gordhan was right to tell the rogue Hawks to go jump.

A day before the notorious letter was sent, Jeff Radebe announced that Zuma had decided to take over the management of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which was a hint that Zuma had decided to throw Gordhan to the wolves.

We must not forget that Zuma said he did not know that contractors were looting state money when they were building his palace in Nkandla. Why are we now expected to believe that the same uneducated man who does not know what is happening in his own house can manage SOEs?

I'm prepared to die to save SA from the thieves - Pravin Gordhan

It is not about managing SOEs; it is about protecting Zuma's friend at South African Airways (SAA), Dudu Myeni, whom Gordhan wants to get rid of as board chairwoman.

Gordhan has made it clear that he will not bail out SAA unless, and until, there is a new board and proper management.

This is essentially the same condition that Nhanhla Nene put forth before he was fired in December last year. In other words, Gordhan now finds himself exactly where Nene was before Zuma fired him.

It is not merely about protecting a "girl" friend at SAA; it is more about looting resources at the disposal of state-owned enterprises. Eskom, Transnet, SAA, Denel and other SOEs control trillions of rands, which corrupt politicians salivate over embezzling.

The latest episode in the Zuma-Gordhan drama is also, and mainly, about the Russian nuclear deal.

It is alleged that Zuma has already received money from the Russians, thus committing to sign a contract for them to build expensive nuclear power stations in South Africa.

Gordhan has been insistent that SA will not enter into a nuclear deal if our country cannot afford it. If it is true that Zuma has received money, it would make sense for him to instruct the Hawks to do everything to get Gordhan out of the way.

All this we all know already. The question many have been asking is: what can we do to stop Zuma from ruining our country? Below are some of the things that different sections of our society can do.

We must begin in the ANC. Gwede Mantashe, Cyril Ramaphosa and Zweli Mkhize are known to be part of a faction that is fed up with Zuma.

If these three want to be counted among those who chose SA when our country was under siege from a rampant kleptocrat, they must publicly denounce Zuma, and proclaim their full support for Gordhan.

If not, we would be right to dismiss them as useless idiots.

In addition to Mantashe and company, ANC stalwarts must stand up, as Zuma continues to destroy the little that is left of the good name of the organisation the stalwarts spent their whole lives building.

The second component of our society to act are trade unions. When the rand loses value, thousands of workers lose their money in pension funds. If you are employed and have pension money in some investment scheme, Zuma's actions affect you directly.

The poor must also rise, for it is them who will feel the brunt of Zuma's actions the most.

When the rand falls, the price of tomatoes at your nearest supermarket goes up. Social grants evaporate. People in villages and townships have more to lose than those in the suburbs.

In the political arena, opposition parties have a role to play. Given its radicalism, the EFF should announce publicly that, should anything happen to Gordhan, the party will make it impossible for Zuma to govern.

Given its political mellowness, the DA could borrow a leaf from Mahatma Gandhi's passive resistance, vowing to boycott parliament should something happen to Gordhan.

There is an important role for business in all this too. The private sector must stop acting after the fact, when damage has been done.

This is the time for activist businessmen and women to rise. The bottom line is at stake.

Heavyweight business executives should demand an urgent meeting with Luthuli House, to warn ANC leaders that, should Zuma continue haunting Gordhan, drastic economic consequences will follow. Releasing press statements targeted at a man who does not read is a waste of time.

We all know the saying, evil thrives when good people do nothing. All responsible South Africans have a question to answer: can we allow our country and the future of our children to be destroyed by one man - Jacob Zuma?