#CabinetReshuffle: SA holds its breath as Zuma meets ANC Top 6

President Jacob Zuma File picture: Kopano Tlape/GCIS

President Jacob Zuma File picture: Kopano Tlape/GCIS

Published Mar 30, 2017

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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. 

Reuters

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