THE future of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane continued to hang in the balance yesterday, with the African Christian Democratic Party adding its voice to calls for him to be fired.
President Jacob Zuma has not indicated if he will accede to calls from the ANC and other parties that action must be taken against Zwane.
The ANC described Zwane’s behaviour, that the cabinet will recommend to Zuma that banks who cut ties with the Guptas must face a judicial inquiry, as irresponsible and wants Zuma to act against him.
ACDP leader Rev Kenneth Meshoe said yesterday Zwane had undermined the cabinet with his actions.
Zwane could not be reached for comment.
Meshoe said Zwane had to face the music and South Africa could not afford a minister as irresponsible as Zwane.
He said the mineral resources minister was not only irresponsible, but was reckless and arrogant with his statement.
“If anybody talks about regulating the banks, there is no investor who wants to invest in a country where the banks are not autonomous,” said Meshoe.
He said the best disciplinary action Zuma could take against Zwane was to fire him.
Meshoe said Zwane spoke as if he were above the law, and his comments did not resonate with someone serving in the cabinet.
Zuma is in China attending the G20 summit with several of his ministers and other world leaders, including US President Barack Obama and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Zuma is expected back in the country later in the week.
He could face questions from Parliament on Zwane’s future when he shows up for the question and answer session with MPs in the next few weeks, if he does not act against Zwane within that period.
Zwane was appointed to Zuma’s cabinet in September last year following a reshuffle where he took over from Ngoako Ramatlhodi at Mineral Resources. Ramatlhodi is now at Public Service and Administration, where he replaced the late Collins Chabane.
Before Zwane was appointed mineral resources minister, he was the agriculture MEC in the Free State and was unknown until he was put into the cabinet a year ago.
The cabinet had washed its hands of his statement that the four major banks would face a judicial inquiry for dumping the Guptas.
But it took Zuma’s intervention, saying no such decision was taken by the cabinet, to calm the markets.