President Jacob Zuma appointed him to the position of Public Enterprises Minister in October 2010 – a position he held until the President announced a new cabinet when he assumed his second term of office in May 2014.
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Gordhan was in the midst of his yearly investor roadshow to the United Kingdom and the USA, trying to convince ratings agencies that the country is politically stable, when he was summarily hauled back home by Zuma.
In a statement, the ANC acknowledged “varying opinions” in the party, and urged members and leaders “to focus more on what contributes to unify the nation than what divides us”. “Zuma is taking a risk here and the next step is to watch what happens with resignations”.
The post Cabinet purge “unacceptable”, says S.Africa deputy president appeared first on Vanguard News. South Africa now has a zero-growth GDP, a decreasing tax base and an unemployment rate of 26.5 percent. “I did not apply for this job (finance minister)”. Why we would want to undermine the country now, I do not think anybody can reasonably and logically explain. “Kick [Zuma] him out and get someone competent to run the country”, Labuschange added.
“The motion of no confidence has been put before Baleka Mbete by the DA”. The DA has also filed a legal challenge to stop the new ministers from taking office.
The party has also moved to impeach Zuma, filing legal papers with the Constitutional Court on Thursday. EFF leader Julius Malema has warned Zuma to prepare himself for impeachment.
“To ask South Africans to rise after a decision to release you of your duties is unheard of in the organisation”.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has sacked the country’s Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, after days of speculation that rocked the country’s markets and currency. Gordhan called it nonsense, and it attracted little more than criticism from some government officials. “We view this as an open attack on Treasury to replace people who are conservative and anti-corruption with people loyal to Zuma”, said Peter Attard Montalto, analyst at Nomura bank, after the reshuffle.
Gordhan’s ouster came as part of a broader reshuffle in which 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers were either moved out or around Zuma’s cabinet.
Gordhan said “there is an allegation that’s floating around which sickens me”.
Zuma’s decision drew flak from leading business leaders in South Africa as well. But he said there had been no parliamentary action against Zuma.
The developments capped off a remarkable week in South African politics.
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Subry Govender contributed to this article. “This is a Gupta coup”.
