Johannesburg - The Cabinet has failed to rap Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane over the knuckles for issuing a statement that a judicial inquiry would investigate the four big banks for dumping the Guptas.
Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe told the media in Parliament on Thursday that President Jacob Zuma was addressing the matter.
He said Zwane was part of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, but his conduct was not discussed as Zuma had spoken about the matter in Parliament and the public arena.
Neither the Cabinet nor Zuma had given Zwane the authority to make a statement about the banks and the Guptas.
Radebe said he had also been caught off guard.
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When he appeared in Parliament last week, Zwane was defiant and stuck to his guns that the banks must be investigated by a judicial inquiry for dumping the Guptas.
His response elicited anger from across opposition benches in the National Assembly.
Parties in Parliament have called on Zuma to fire him. He has been described as an embarrassment and a threat to the economy. The ANC, SACP and Cosatu have also rebuked Zwane for his conduct and called on Zuma to act against him. But the president has not said what action - if any - he would take against him.
“We are all concerned about this matter that is why we issued a statement and the president repudiated Zwane,” said Radebe.
He said he had also not known about the statement Zwane issued until he read about it in the media.
Zuma had to return calm to the markets and the public.
The president is the only person legally allowed to institute a judicial commission of inquiry into any matter.
Zwane launched a scathing attack on Nedbank, Absa, FNB and Standard Bank, saying they would face an inquiry for cutting ties with the Guptas. The Guptas also faced suspension from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange until their company found a sponsor. This came after its sponsor Sasfin Capital severed ties with them following allegations of state capture.
Zwane further attacked the National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank for failing to act against the four banks.
THE STAR