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FINANCE MINISTER ORDERED HOME – LIKE A NAUGTY BOY!

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HEAT IS ON: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan appears to be on a collision course with President Jacob Zuma.
HEAT IS ON: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan appears to be on a collision course with President Jacob Zuma.

JACOB ZUMA fired Nhlanhla Nene and brought the economy of a nation to its knees. 

Once again, a shocked nation holds its breath. 

THIS TIME, IF HE FIRES PRAVIN GORDHAN, MZANSI MIGHT NOT RECOVER. 

Political parties, analysts and politicians have reacted with shock after Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, were told to cancel their international investor roadshow.

“The president is a wrecking ball!” former general secretary of Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi, told Daily Sun

“He knows this will have a huge impact but he doesn’t care about the economy and the 9 million unemployed people. He is relentlessly pursuing the agenda to capture Treasury. 

“We expect a reshuffle and the bringing into cabinet of Zuma’s cronies. The intention is to use Treasury to allow hyenas to feed at the trough!”

DA shadow minister of finance David Maynier said: “It appears, at best, calculated to humiliate the minister or, at worst, to suggest he is about to be fired in a cabinet reshuffle.”

Cope national chairman Pakes Dikgetsi said: “It adds to the slap in the face of the delegation.” 

“Zuma has clearly stooped very low once again. It will add to Cope’s long held view that Zuma only acts in his own interests.”

Political commentator Professor Barry Hanyane said it was a shocking move. 

“It’s risky. It’s a radical move.” 

The Save South Africa campaign said Zuma was acting with unbridled recklessness.

“It is a sign of extremely weak leadership. The ultimate victims will be the poor and Zuma must be held accountable.” 

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said the party did not discuss the matter at their NEC meeting. 

Gordhan himself tried to calm the nervous investment community. “I have not been recalled. I have been asked to come home,” he said.

TIMELINE: HOW DID WE GET HERE?

2015

9 December: Zuma unexpectedly fires Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and replaces him with little-known MP, Des van Rooyen.

Investors react with horror and the rand falls steeply. Some economists believe Zuma’s move cost South Africa as much as R500 million.

13 December: Zuma removes Van Rooyen from his new post and replaces him with the respected Pravin Gordhan.

The rand recovered significantly because of the move.

December to April 2016: All four major South African banks close the accounts of companies controlled by the Gupta family.

They don’t make their reasons public.

The Gupta family are Zuma’s friends.


2016

19 February: The Hawks send Gordhan 27 questions to answer in connection with a so-called “rogue unit” allegedly operating at Sars when Gordhan was Sars’ commissioner.

11 October: The NPA announces Gordhan and others are being charged with fraud for actions carried out while Gordhan was commissioner at Sars in 2010.

14 October: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan asks the courts to declare he could not interfere with the decisions by the banks to close Gupta accounts.

This case was due to be heard in court from tomorrow (28 March 2017).

31 October: The NPA drops the fraud charges against Gordhan and his former colleagues.

2 November: The Public Protector's office releases Thuli Madonsela's State of Capture report.

The report reveals several accusations that the Gupta family has been unlawfully influencing government decisions, including Cabinet appointments.

It includes Jonas’ claim that in 2015 he was offered R600 million and the position of finance minister by the Guptas.

2017

27 March: Zuma instructs Gordhan and Jonas to come home from an overseas tour to promote investment in South African.

He gives no explanation for this.

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