Gloves Off as Deputy President Slams President Zuma in Public

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Cyril Ramaphosa and former President Jacob Zuma (File photo)

Its open war in the ANC after President Jacob Zuma’s midnight wholesale slaughter of ministers in his cabinet.

His reasons for firing the eminently capable & internationally respected Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and his deputy are not believed by the leadership of his own party, and certainly not by leaders in civil society, business and opposition parties.

The most incompetent and under performing ministers such as Dlamini, Muthambi and Zwane all retained their positions, whilst those who dare oppose Zuma were summarily dismissed and had to hear about their dismissals through the media.

The ANC Secretary General, Gwede Mantashe publicly distanced himself from the President’s decisions and sensationally remarked that the top leaderships was not consulted, but merely presented with a list that was “decided elsewhere” – read Gupta & their Saxonworld compound, now routinely referred to as the Saxonworld Shebeen.

The Deputy President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa very publicly slammed his Boss’s decisions and said it cannot be in the interests of South Africans. He furthermore dismissed the so-called intelligence report according to which Gordhan was conspiring with South Africa’s enemies in London, as rubbish.

The fired Minister of Finance, Gordhan, publicly denied any of the charges and made it clear that South Africans must be more watchful than ever to prevent the Treasury from being looted.

Zuma’s long-time confidant, and Treasurer General of the ANC – one of the top 6 positions in the organisation – Zweli Mkhize, on Saturday issued a public statement denouncing the decision of President Zuma to fire the Finance Minister and his deputy, together with some other ministers, as wholly unacceptable, was done in defiance of the views of senior ANC leaders, and is not in the best interests of the ordinary South Africans.

Many commentators and members of the ANC in recent days expressed their very strong opposition to the failed leadership of President Zuma and expressed the view that he is captured by the Guptas, and has in turn captured the ANC – at least if he remains successful in outwitting all the powerful forces that are lining up against him.

Once again it is clear for all the world to see that South Africa has an amazingly active and resilient democracy. The values enshrined in the constitution are sacred to all South Africans and in the long-run not even a ruthless operator such as President Zuma, will escape the determination of South Africans to establish a truly just and equitable society, underpinned by the Constitution of the country.

Although many in South Africa are venting their frustration with the inability to get rid of this man who has been found by the Highest Court in the land to have violated his oath of office and who has hundreds of criminal charges hanging over him, if history is anything to go by, it is going to end in tears for Zuma. And he will be a very lonely and utterly despised person when he finally finds himself in a corner he cannot get out of.

Opinion by Frans Roelofse

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