Uncertainty over Gordhan

IF PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma is going to fire Pravin Gordhan as his finance minister, he should get on with it.

Gordhan returned home prematurely yesterday, cutting short meetings meant to market South Africa to investors in the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Zuma ordered him back, but we still don’t know why.

What we do know is that Gordhan was never Zuma’s first choice as finance minister.

It was under the Zuma presidency that Gordhan was moved out of finance and replaced by Nhlanhla Nene. About 18 months later, Zuma sacked Nene and appointed Des van Rooyen as the finance minister.

The fallout of that decision is well recorded, and Gordhan was subsequently brought in to calm matters.

He succeeded despite several attempts to undermine him. In fact, it is remarkable that Gordhan has survived this long.

As president of the Republic, Zuma does not need to explain who he hires or fires from his cabinet. If he wants Gordhan out, he should say so.

The current uncertainty caused by Zuma’s silence and inaction is far more damaging.