BREAKING: Gordhan Out. Home Affairs Minister Gigaba New Finance Minister
The Rand plummeted Thursday evening as rumours raged on social media that South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had been ousted, and replaced by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba. Update: the Cabinet Reshuffle rumours have been confirmed in a statement after midnight Thursday evening. This follows a week of intense speculation after President Jacob Zuma recalled Gordhan from an […]
The Rand plummeted Thursday evening as rumours raged on social media that South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan had been ousted, and replaced by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba. Update: the Cabinet Reshuffle rumours have been confirmed in a statement after midnight Thursday evening.
This follows a week of intense speculation after President Jacob Zuma recalled Gordhan from an overseas investment trip, allegedly because he had a report revealing Gordhan was going to undermine his leadership and detrimentally impact the SA economy.
Many speculated that the President was seeking a Cabinet Reshuffle and was gunning for Gordhan and his Deputy, Mcebisi Jonas. Critics accused Zuma of answering to the wishes of the Gupta Family who have had issues with Gordhan.
The South African Communist Party confirmed Thursday that it had been briefed on the planned reshuffle, and that it – the SACP – had rejected the proposal and did not wish for Gordhan and Jonas to be replaced.
This evening Zuma reportedly called a meeting of the ANC Top Six and fired Gordhan, replacing him with Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, and replacing Jonas with Sfiso Buthelezi.
The reason for the rush to complete the reshuffle late on Thursday night may be revealed in this retweet from EFF leader Julius Malema: “The new Finance Minister has an urgent task of approving the Gupta acquisition of Habib Bank. Their acquisition deadline is tomorrow.”
South Africans are being called to gather in Church Square, Pretoria, at 10am.
DA Responds – Calls for Parliament to Fire Zuma
https://twitter.com/mathewlove36/status/847557597511245824
BREAKING NEWS: Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has been fired in President Jacob Zuma's #CabinetReshuffle https://t.co/bZ2YiPqsp0 pic.twitter.com/fng4pRF2qX
— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) March 30, 2017
This is not a #CabinetReshuffle. It is a purge of those SACPers who stood up to a compromised Zuma. The target was always #PravinGordhan .
— Justice Malala (@justicemalala) March 30, 2017
South Africa's new colonial overlords, crowned tonight by their puppet in a #cabinetreshuffle. pic.twitter.com/a3Ayoe5f7K
— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) March 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/suhailamather/status/847569207978078208
#CabinetReshuffle @ThulasSims explains the context leading to this. Live updates on #DStv403 and https://t.co/srSwp4puiM pic.twitter.com/EcqJT5PHrl
— eNCA (@eNCA) March 30, 2017
#cabinetreshuffle Night of the Long Knives
— Barney Mthombothi (@mthombothi) March 30, 2017
#cabinetreshuffle fools day is no longer 1st of April but 31st of March 😯😯
— Loved&Guided (@Nekko_Nontuntu) March 30, 2017
They must definitely be referring to his physical appearance #cabinetreshuffle pic.twitter.com/VrLBVdM7ow
— sakhi (@biggsmallz1) March 30, 2017
Let's salute Pravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas – great, principled and competent leaders. Their integrity remains intact. #cabinetreshuffle
— sbusiso mabasa (@sbusisomabasa) March 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/847549820747354112
https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/847551913935515649
#cabinetreshuffle those who refused to be influenced by Gupta are out, only #SaxonwoldShebeen regulars left
— akhona (@Akonation) March 30, 2017
Looking at the currencies right now and it seems as though all overseas travel will need to be postponed to mid 2019 🙃 #cabinetreshuffle 📉
— Maps Maponyane (@MapsMaponyane) March 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/SimonPGrindrod/status/847569425725259776
Our country feels like a movie this evening #cabinetreshuffle
— Obakeng 🇵🇸 🇸🇩 🇨🇩 (@tweetobakeng) March 30, 2017
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) March 30, 2017
Plse sir. Stop expecting others to do something. Come to church square in Pta at 10am. We can talk there. https://t.co/udwzcPSrqx
— Zelda la Grange ©™✌ (@ZeldalaGrangeSA) March 30, 2017