Now Zuma faces ANC showdown
NEC looms amid rumour of cabinet reshuffle
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma came through a Q and A session in Parliament relatively unscathed yesterday, but a far tougher inquiry awaits him at this weekend’s meeting of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC).
The atmosphere could not be worse for Zuma, after the SACP yesterday spilled the beans on another cabinet reshuffle next week, allegedly happening at the behest of the Gupta family.
The bombshell allegation sets the scene for a battle royal in the NEC meeting between the SACP and other ANC members concerned about the issue of “state capture” and those loyal to Zuma who will seek to defend him against the accusation.
The SACP claimed minutes before Zuma stood to respond to questions in the National Assembly that Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies, a senior SACP member, was the target of the latest intended reshuffle.
This is over his attempts to secure cheaper steel prices for local manufacturers – a Prices valid until 21 March 2016
While stocks last
position which was of concern to the Guptas because they intended acquiring a stake in steelmaker ArcelorMittal.
Allthough the SACP has denied that its raising of the issue of state capture was an attack on Zuma, its position is a contradiction of Zuma’s claim yesterday that he had “no business” with the allegation by Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas that he was offered the job of minister by the Guptas.
Responding to a question from DA leader Mmusi Maimane on whether he had consulted anyone before appointing Des van Rooyen as finance minister in place of Nhlanhla Nene, Zuma said the constitution “does not require me to consult anyone before I appoint or remove a minister or deputy minister”.
Pressed by Maimane on whether the Guptas had been involved in the appointment of ministers, Zuma added: “There is no minister who is here who was appointed by the Guptas or by anybody else, Ministers who are here were appointed by me.”
But ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe had earlier urged anyone in the government who had been subjected to attempts to influence them to come forward and, within hours, Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramathlodi obliged, revealing he had been invited to dinner by the Guptas while he was mineral resources minister, which he refused.