Zuma informed us instead of debating Cabinet reshuffle – Mantashe

As the country absorbs news of the shocking Cabinet reshuffle, ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe has told Power FM the top six officials in the ruling party were informed about the changes made to president Jacob Zuma’s administration.

Usually, such drastic changes are openly debated, but this time, Zuma opted to give out an instruction that the Cabinet would be changed, Mantashe said.

"Traditionally we debate reshuffle. This time around they basically informed us" – @GwedeUncle on #POWERZone with @kwenaldinho

— POWER 98.7 (@Powerfm987) March 30, 2017

Mantashe also told 702 he was not comfortable with how the axing and appointing new ministers were done.

Listen to his interview below

Mantashe and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa are said to have rejected the decision to have Pravin Gordhan removed from his position as minister of finance.

Zuma has based his axing of Gordhan on an intelligence report that stated Gordhan and his former deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, were set to meet people who would push for a change in government.

Derek Hanekom, former minister of tourism who was axed together with Gordhan and others, said he found out about it like everyone else in a press released distributed by the Presidency.

Other notable changes to Zuma’s Cabinet include the appointment of Tokozile Xasa as the new minister of tourism as well as that of Joe Maswanganyi as the new minister of transport, replacing Dipuo Peters.

Earlier on, Zuma called an urgent meeting with members of the ANC’s top brass at his presidential home Mahlambandlopfu in Pretoria. This sparked intense speculation that a reshuffle was imminent.

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