Zuma fires finance minister despite widespread opposition

Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s President, has fired the country’s finance minister Pravin Gordhan.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the president’s office, Gordhan will be replaced by Malusi Gigaba.

Earlier this week, the president recalled Gordhan from planned events in the United Kingdom.

Deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas, was also replaced with Sfiso Buthelezi.

“I have directed the new ministers and deputy ministers to work tirelessly with their colleagues to bring about radical socioeconomic transformation and to ensure that the promise of a better life for the poor and the working class becomes a reality,” Zuma’s statement said.

Gordhan was charged with fraud last October but the charges were later dropped.

He has, more than once, warned against corruption becoming rampant in Zuma’s cabinet.

The South African Communist Party and senior members of the African National Congress had opposed the finance minister’s removal when Zuma’s intention was earlier made public.

After Gordhan was recalled from the UK, South Africa’s rand lost nearly 5% of its value against major currencies.

ANC’s secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, on Friday said he was “uncomfortable” with the process used to remove Gordhan.

“We were given a list that was complete, and in my own view as a secretary I felt like this list has been developed somewhere else and was given to us to legitimise it,” he said.