President slammed for not consulting top six

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe says President Jacob Zuma failed to consult the rest of the ANC top six in his latest Cabinet reshuffle and the president’s decision to dismiss SACP chief Blade Nzimande has put the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance in jeopardy.

He told a media briefing in Johannesburg yesterday that Zuma merely informed them about the pending changes, but did not consult them as he was supposed to do.

This is the second time Zuma has taken a crucial decision about his Cabinet without first talking to his fellow leaders. The same party officials had been resisting calls within the ANC and from the public in general for the ANC to force Zuma to step down.

Late last year, Zuma recalled former finance minister Pravin Gordhan from an international investors’ roadshow in London and later fired him. He based his decision on a mysterious intelligence report which said the minister embarked on the trip as part of a plot against him.

The top six ANC office-bearers are Mantashe, Zuma as president, Cyril Ramaphosa as deputy president, national chairperson Baleka Mbete, deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize.

The decision by Mantashe, Ramaphosa and Mkhize to publicly rebuke Zuma over his decision on Gordhan gained them public confidence. But in a move dubbed “Mantashing” (about-turn), the country was disappointed when the leaders withdrew their statements and closed ranks behind Zuma.

Mantashe yesterday said a planned alliance political council by the three components would be affected by Nzimande’s removal. He said his dismissal may interrupt the plan to hold the crucial meeting.

The latest reshuffle was seen as vindictiveness and revenge against his opponents, including Nzimande, who has been publicly criticising him over corruption, particularly the state capture involving the president and the Gupta family.