Cape Town – The Presidency on Friday rebuffed claims and reports that President Jacob Zuma was locked in a bitter battle with Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, relating to a fight for control of the National Treasury.
“It is… absurd to say that the President would be engaged in a struggle to control a government department that he already controls, and also when he actually controls the whole of government,” said Presidency spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga.
Referring to numerous media reports, open letters, and allegations, Ngqulunga said that the “toxic narrative” being told in the media, that Zuma and Gordhan were at war, was met with condemnation from the Presidency.
“The purpose of the said ‘war’ is apparently that the President wishes to take control of the National Treasury,” said Ngqulunga.
Since Gordhan’s reappointment as Finance Minister in December 2015, allegations of a National Treasury tug-of-war has done the rounds in the media. This has been fuelled by things such as reports of the “imminent arrest” of Gordhan for the so-called spy unit allegedly established at the South African Revenue Services during his time as Commissioner, and Gordhan’s response to this, calling on South Africans to protect the National Treasury, among others.
According to Ngqulunga, Zuma, attempting to grab control of Treasury from Gordhan was impossible as he already held the reins. “It should be noted that the President controls all government departments including the National Treasury.”
Ngqulunga said that Zuma and government at large were focused on their joint objective of uniting “the nation behind the goals of reigniting growth in order to preserve and create jobs during the difficult economic climate”.
“The Presidency trusts that the information peddlers will allow South Africa the space to focus on this national imperative and refrain from the perpetual spreading of false rumours,” said Ngqulunga.
African News Agency