IT MAKES sense that the future of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane hangs in the balance. What doesn’t make sense is why he hasn’t already been fired or – at the very least – placed on suspension while an inquiry into his conduct takes place.
Not only did he further endanger the country’s investment position through a seemingly ad hoc call for what would amount to a probe into the banking sector, he was ridiculed as an embarrassment by his own party.
And that, to be frank, is rare within the ANC, although it should have happened with other senior leaders on previous occasions.
Zwane’s words were even met by a statement from the Presidency which clarified he had spoken in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the cabinet or the task team established to consider the implications of certain banks and audit firms closing down accounts and withdrawing audit services from the Guptas’ Oakbay Investments.
It called Zwane’s statement “unfortunate”, inconvenient, confusing and deeply regretted. Indeed.
The ANC’s alliance partner Cosatu called Zwane supremely politically arrogant and self-exalting, saying his actions had raised questions on who calls the shots in government. We echo the federation’s sentiments.
Yet President Jacob Zuma has not indicated if he will accede to calls for action to be taken against Zwane, who effectively said the cabinet would recommend that banks who cut ties with the controversial Gupta family must face a judicial inquiry.
That was irresponsible and reckless. Banks must remain autonomous. But Zwane is seemingly no ordinary minister. He was, after all, plucked from being the MEC for agriculture in the Free State to become an MP in the nick of legal time to be appointed a minister.
While he was in provincial government, a controversial R570 million dairy project was found to be full to the brim with irregularities by National Treasury investigators. Meanwhile, allegations of the Guptas’ closeness to that project have never been properly addressed.
We wonder: when will this nightmare end?