South- African papers report that President Jacob Zuma has sacked 15 ministers and deputies.
Zuma had earlier summoned the rest of the ANC’s top six to an urgent meeting in Pretoria.
It is not clear what the meeting is about.
The officials, Cyril Ramaphosa‚ Baleka Mbete‚ Gwede Mantashe‚ Jessie Duarte and Zweli Mkhize, were called to a meeting at short notice to the presidential home, Mahlambandlopfu, at 18:30.
Some ministers were informed to be on standby.
News24 also reports that that nine ministers, including Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, and six deputy ministers will be affected by the reshuffle.
The SACP, an alliance partner of the ANC, confirmed on Thursday that Zuma told the party on Wednesday that he planned to fire Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas based on an “intelligence report”.
The report contains claims that Gordhan and Jonas were going to use the trip to the UK and US to push for a change in government.
Gordhan was summarily recalled from the UK leg of the trip on Monday. Zuma gave no official reasons.
According to the report, Gordhan, Jonas and Treasury director general Lungisa Fuzile had set up “secret meetings” to start “operation Check Mate” and to tell investors they stood together against Zuma and the corruption of the Guptas. Zuma faces a rebellion within his own party should he fire Gordhan, with about 12 ministers considering resigning from their positions and then fighting for the president’s removal if he goes ahead, according to four people familiar with the situation.
Deputy President Ramaphosa and some deputy ministers may also resign, the sources said, asking not to be identified because the information isn’t public.
Stop exaggerating. What crisis?
SA has one of the brightest future, of all African countries. Challenges are a part of life. To expect that a country like Mzansi, that went through years of colonialism and a vicious apartheid system would just thrive without ups and downs is frankly being naive.
There was Bantu education that denied blacks proper schooling and families were ruined through the migrant labour system. Blacjs were consigned to Homelands whilst whites accumulated capital. That is why the country has always had the largest white population on the continent. White monopoly capital is entrenched.
I would also want to believe there are far more single parent mothers in South Africa than in any other African country; hence the social ills.
However; all this notwithstanding, I still believe they have over the last 23 years done pretty well under the circumstances; though they could have still done better.
I see a bright future for this country, given its strong institutions; civil society; opposition and the demicratic consultative and consensus nature of their politics. There are no impositions from above on the citizens in South Africa.
Even in terms of their inter racial and inter tribal relationships; public officials are largely circumspect on public platforms, especially when one compares with Zim. Whilst now and again there are outbursts of racial tensions and almost none of tribalism, people are growing to accept that there are consequences. A anti-hate speech Bill is in the offing.
In Zim, nothing happens; even the President, his wife or his Ministers can say whatever they like about the Ndebele – nothing happens. Opposition politicians and ordinary folks copy the President and do the same; nothing happens. Zim is a tragedy; but SA has a silver lining going forward. Thats just my take on this one!
I feel for the people of SA; for years now the country has been be latching from one crisis to the next, this is not helping in any way!