Zuma faces open rebellion, en masse resignations if Gordhan gets fired – report

President Jacob Zuma reportedly faces mutiny from members of the African National Congress (ANC).

Bloomberg reported on Thursday that according to four sources it had spoken to, about 12 ministers in his Cabinet were considering resigning from their jobs, should he fire Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Members of the executive, who include Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and some deputy ministers, apparently also plan to keep their seats in Parliament to push for Zuma’s removal as the country’s president.

“The officials would keep their seats in Parliament and possibly support or abstain from a vote of no confidence in the president if it’s called by the opposition or by members of the African National Congress (ANC),” they said.

“The president is still considering his next move. By firing Gordhan, Zuma risks a market meltdown. If he doesn’t, he may appear weak as he seeks to secure his choice as successor as party leader in December,” the report stated.

Zuma has been increasingly under fire after he summoned Gordhan and his delegation from an international investor roadshow on Monday, fuelling widespread speculation and market uncertainty over the minister’s future as the head of National Treasury.

It emerged on Wednesday that Zuma presented a bizarre intelligence report to the leadership of the SA Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC’s top six leaders this week, purporting that Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, allegedly embarked on the trip to influential people hellbent on “overthrowing the state”.

But the SACP has dismissed the veracity of the report. The party confirmed on Thursday Zuma had told them of his plan to replace Gordhan and Jonas, though they objected to this.

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