DA in court battle to know reasons for reshuffle

SOUTH Africans will know by the end of this week whether they are entitled to know President Jacob Zuma’s full reasons for axing former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas.

The Pretoria High Court will rule tomorrow or on Friday on the DA’s urgent application to force Zuma to provide reasons for his decision to reshuffle his cabinet.

The matter was set for yesterday but was postponed to tomorrow to afford the judge an opportunity to go through the heads of argument.

The DA wants Zuma to provide a written record of decisions and reasons for the reshuffle.

This is for its main legal bid for the decision to be set aside on the basis that it was invalid‚ irrational and unconstitutional.

The party believes Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle – especially the axing of Gordhan and Jonas‚ which led to the country’s junk status – was based on political considerations to put himself above the people of South Africa‚ which made it all the more important that he provide an explanation.

“This is a compelling application to force the government to hand over the record of the decision to enable us to proceed with the review,” DA federal executive chairman James Selfe said.

However, in heads of argument the state attorney said: “The president derives the power to appoint and dismiss cabinet from the constitution.

“It is a decision about which there is no record of proceedings of the sort the applicant would be entitled to.”