Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-Origin Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Sacking Triggers Civil War In S Africa's Ruling ANC

IANS, 31 Mar, 2017 11:57 AM
    The sacking of South Africa’s respected Indian-origin Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a Cabinet purge pitched the ruling ANC party into chaos on Friday, creating one of its biggest tests since leading the fight against apartheid.
     
    The country’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa launched an unprecedented verbal attack on President Jacob Zuma, whose midnight reshuffle sent the rand currency plunging and triggered accusations that he was promoting graft.
     
    Zuma’s axing of Finance Minister Gordhan also unleashed a wave of opposition in the African National Congress, which came to power under Nelson Mandela in the euphoric 1994 elections but has suffered declining support.
     
    Gordhan was widely seen as a competent manager of one of the world’s most important emerging economies.
     
    Ramaphosa went public with his anger, openly attacking his boss.
     
    “I told him that I would not agree with him,” Ramaphosa told reporters.
     
    “There are quite a number of other colleagues and comrades who are unhappy about this situation, particularly the removal of the Minister of Finance who was serving the country with absolute distinction”.
     
    Gordhan was reportedly sacked because of an alleged intelligence report on meetings he held in London earlier this week.
     
    “For him to be removed for this type of reasoning is to me unacceptable,” Ramaphosa said.
     
    Gordhan held a press conference today, saying he heard of his sacking via television and dismissing the intelligence report “as absolute nonsense.”
     
    “We hope more and more South Africans would make it clear that our country is not for sale,” he added.
     
    Zuma made 20 new government appointments in the reshuffle.
     
    “I’m very uncomfortable because areas where ministers do not perform have not been touched,” Gwede Mantashe, the influential ANC Secretary-General, said.
     
    “We can’t be happy (with the decision to sack Gordhan) because we think that the Finance Minister was a hard worker.” Gordhan had been at loggerheads with Zuma for months, receiving support from several ministers and major foreign investors, as well as many ordinary South Africans and veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle.
     
    He campaigned for budget discipline and against corruption, but Zuma’s allies have accused Gordhan of thwarting the president’s desire to enact radical policies to tackle racial inequality.
     
    Mantashe told 702 Radio that Zuma was aware that many in the ANC were “unhappy” about the purge, in which Gordhan was replaced by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
     
    “The President came with a list. (He) said ‘you can comment if you want to comment, but this is my decision,’” Mantashe said.
     
    The ANC, which was banned under white-minority rule, has lost popularity due to corruption allegations, record unemployment and slow economic growth. 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    US Firms Going Abroad Can't Say 'Bye-Bye And Fire Everybody', Warns Donald Trump

    In his weekly address to the nation, Donald Trump also said that he is working on a major tax reform which would massively reduce taxes of American workers and businesses.

    US Firms Going Abroad Can't Say 'Bye-Bye And Fire Everybody', Warns Donald Trump

    Woman Says 'Justice' In Sexual Assault Case Came At Personal Cost

    Woman Says 'Justice' In Sexual Assault Case Came At Personal Cost
    While the 22-year-old Nova Scotia woman says ultimately "justice was served" by the courts, she maintains it came at such a personal cost she would have been better off had she never gone to the authorities.

    Woman Says 'Justice' In Sexual Assault Case Came At Personal Cost

    Quebec Student Athlete Says He Was Denied Entry To The United States

    Quebec Student Athlete Says He Was Denied Entry To The United States
    Yassine Aber, 19, was denied entry to the United States on Thursday. The Canadian-born athlete faced questions about his place of birth, his parents and countries he's visited recently. 

    Quebec Student Athlete Says He Was Denied Entry To The United States

    India Will Be World's Fastest Growing Economy In 5 Years: Top US Think Tank

    India Will Be World's Fastest Growing Economy In 5 Years: Top US Think Tank
    Pakistan, unable to match India's economic prowess, will seek other methods to maintain even a semblance of balance

    India Will Be World's Fastest Growing Economy In 5 Years: Top US Think Tank

    One Dead, Five In Hospital After Fire At Toronto Community Housing Building

    One Dead, Five In Hospital After Fire At Toronto Community Housing Building
    Toronto's fire chief says one person died and five others were taken to hospital after a fire at a downtown community housing building on Thursday evening.

    One Dead, Five In Hospital After Fire At Toronto Community Housing Building

    H1B Visa Changes: External Affairs Ministry Says Engaged With US on Issue

    H1B Visa Changes: External Affairs Ministry Says Engaged With US on Issue
    India on Thursday said it is engaged with the Donald Trump administration as well as members of the US Congress on concerns regarding the H1B visa issue, amidst apprehension that there may be a clamp down on it which can hurt Indian IT industry.

    H1B Visa Changes: External Affairs Ministry Says Engaged With US on Issue