President’s apology ‘tames’ detractors
ANC accepts Zuma’s explanation that Pravin Gordhan was removed due to irreconcilable differences
President Jacob Zuma apologised on Tuesday to the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) over party officials’ handling of his cabinet reshuffle, in which former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, his deputy Mcebisi Jonas and three other ministers were axed. The president initially used a questionable intelligence document on a purported plot by Gordhan and Jonas to justify his reshuffle, when a simple explanation would have sufficed. ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said Zuma had removed Gordhan due to irreconcilable differences between the two — which was sufficient reason for the president to take the step. There had been no need for Zuma to use the so-called intelligence report to justify his intended actions. "The NWC has accepted the irretrievable breakdown of the relationship between the president and a member of his Cabinet as sufficient explanation for the decision taken by the president. "The issue of the intelligence report complicated the matter, creating a lot of unha...
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