It's do or die as Zuma rolls the biggest dice of his political life
'It’s a lose-lose situation. I don’t think the medium or long-term effects will be beneficial to him or to the ANC'
South African President Jacob Zuma is taking a gamble as he ups the ante in his battle with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan for control of the nation’s finances. If he fires Gordhan, as he told Communist Party officials that he planned to do according to three people with knowledge of the matter, he risks a market meltdown and a revolt by opponents in the ruling African National Congress. If he doesn’t, he’d appear weak as he seeks to secure his choice as successor as party leader in December. Zuma ordered Gordhan to cancel a roadshow and to return home from London on Monday. The turmoil has caused the rand to plummet. Since Zuma, 74, was pressured to appoint Gordhan in 2015, he’s feuded with him over a planned nuclear power expansion and the management of state companies and the national tax agency. He told the communist officials Gordhan is obstructing his policies and must be removed, according to the people at the meeting who asked not to be identified because a public statement...
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