ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe is unhappy with President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle‚ saying the party’s top leaders gave no input to the list of replacement Cabinet members.
“We were informed‚ not consulted‚ that’s how I can describe it‚” Mantashe told 702 Radio on Friday.
“The list was given to us complete. The list might have been developed somewhere for us (the ANC top six) to legitimise.”
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The presidency officially announced a reworked Cabinet after midnight‚ following months of speculation.
Speaking to Xolani Gwala‚ Mantashe was clearly unhappy with Zuma’s decision to reshuffle his Cabinet and in particular the decision to remove Pravin Gordhan as finance minister. Malusi Gigaba will replace Gordhan.
“I can’t be happy with that. The finance minister was a hard worker. I’m not casting aspersions on the new finance minister‚” Mantashe said.
“They [finance ministers] always come out to be good … but the process has made me jittery and uncomfortable. The president knows the ANC is not happy with the changes‚” he said.
Mantashe was pressed by Gwala to reveal where the list was developed and Mantashe repeatedly said he did not know.
“I don’t know where the list was developed. The president has a right to invoke the constitutional process … The president just came with the list to us and said you can comment if you want to comment.” – Tiso Black Star Group Digtial/Nathi Olifant
