Johannesburg - President
Jacob Zuma called a meeting of the ruling African National
Congress' (ANC) top six officials late on Thursday, media
reported, after ANC ally the South African Communist Party said
he planned to sack Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
The SACP said it objected to that plan, while the main
opposition said it would call a vote of no-confidence in Zuma
over the matter.
There was no official confirmation of the meeting.
But online news service News24 cited sources saying that
nine ministers, including Gordhan, and six deputy ministers were
about to be reshuffled.
The rand turned negative against the dollar. South
Africa's currency and markets have been under pressure since
Monday, when Zuma ordered Gordhan to abandon an investor
roadshow in Britain and fly home. Zuma has not given a reason
for the recall.
The SACP'S deputy secretary general Solly Mapaila earlier
told a news conference the party had registered a formal
objection to the planned dismissals of Gordhan and his deputy
Mcebisi Jonas during a meeting with Zuma on Monday.
After days of rumours, Mapaila's comments were the first
public confirmation that Zuma intends to dismiss the ministers.
"We objected both to the removal of the comrades as well as
the intended replacements ... even the reasons given," Mapaila
said referring to Gordhan and Jonas. "Comrade Pravin (Gordhan)
has run that ministry with absolute cleanliness."
Gordhan said on Tuesday that he was still finance minister.
On Wednesday, he said he would "open a new chapter" of his life
if sacked. Volatile trading in the rand has underlined Gordhan's
reputation among investors as a guardian of policymaking
stability in South Africa.
On Wednesday, sources within the ANC told Reuters there was
a split down the middle among its six most senior officials, who
include Zuma, over whether Gordhan should be sacked.
Zuma does not need the support of the top six to hire and
fire ministers but should top ANC members openly criticise his
decision it would likely weaken his position in the party.
Nomura analyst Peter Attard Montalto said it was likely Zuma
had made up his mind on the cabinet changes.
"It would seem odd to drag the Top6 all the way to Pretoria
to simply rehash the division's of Monday's meeting. Minds won't
be changed, the splits are set, it seems either he backs down or
informs them he's all in for a full reshuffle."
For the second consecutive day, the influential ANC Youth
League issued a statement backing Zuma's planned cabinet
changes.
Zuma chaired a cabinet meeting late on Wednesday. A
statement issued late on Thursday steered clear of any mention
of a cabinet reshuffle.
Zuma did not address the subject when speaking to the
National House of Traditional Leaders in Cape Town on Thursday
but appeared composed and cracked jokes.
He was ushered out quickly and security officials shielded
him from reporters as Zuma entered his luxury sedan. He laughed
off questions by reporters on whether he would fire Gordhan.
Some pundits say Gordhan is being pressured by a faction
allied to Zuma, which has clashed with him over his plans to
rein in government spending, the management of state enterprises
and the running of the tax agency as the economy stagnates.
Africa's most industrialised economy grew by 0.3 percent in
2016 versus 1.3 percent in the previous year.
Pressure has piled on Zuma over his plan to sack Gordhan.
Two senior sources told Reuters Zuma is considering offering
to step down next year, at least 12 months before his term as
South African president ends, under a deal with opponents in the
party that would see Gordhan leave office now.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of the
Democratic Alliance, said he plans to bring a motion of no
confidence against Zuma in parliament after his intention to
fire Gordhan was confirmed.
Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom
Fighters (EFF) and a former protege of Zuma, filed a court
application for disciplinary or impeachment proceedings against
the president on Thursday.