MP resignations unlikely to have any impact on SA, says analyst

The resignations of former Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas and Transport Minister Dipuo Peters as ANC parliamentarians would not impact on the ruling party and country’s political environment in any big way because they were already out in the cold, a political expert has said.

The statement by political analyst, Zamikhaya Maseti, came as parliament on Thursday confirmed that Jonas has resigned as an ANC MP with effect from March 31.

As this is a retrospective date, it meant that Jonas quit with immediate effect.

His resignation was preceded by that of the former transport Minister Dipuo Peters, who also stepped down with immediate effect.

Jonas’s resignation was rumoured since Wednesday, nearly a week after he and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan were axed by President Jacob Zuma in a Cabinet reshuffle.

Zuma’s controversial decision is a subjected of the ongoing debate within the ANC and countrywide and planned public protests.

National mass marches to call for Zuma to step down are planned with the main one due to take place in Pretoria and organised by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Save SA initiative.

Religious leaders and ANC struggle stalwarts and veterans were expected to participate in the action.

The Eastern Cape-born Jonas had been member of the ANC for long and was active in the party structures in the province. He served in the ANC provincial executive committee for years and once headed the East Cape Development Corporation.

He was the provincial MEC for finance and economic affairs before being promoted to his last portfolio as national finance deputy Minister.

Since his axing by Zuma, Jonas has been addressing public meetings to express his feeling about his removal from the Zuma administration.

Maseti downplayed the latest resignations saying they were unlikely to have any impact.

“Resignations in my view are personal considerations and these ones will have no significant impact at all as the ministers have already been sacked by the President. It would have been more significant if these were resignations from the serving Cabinet members,” Maseti said.

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