South Africa denies Ramaphosa quit after Zuma reshuffle fiasco
South Africa Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking during Madaraka Day celebrations at Nyayo Stadium on June 1, 2015. South Africa Presidency has denied rumours that the deputy president has quit following President Jacob Zuma's reshuffle fiasco. PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI | NATION MEDIA
What you need to know:
On December 9, President Jacob Zuma appointed Mr Van Rooyen to replace Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, a move that created chaos at the market.
Four days later, Mr Zuma appointed Pravin Gordhan, then Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to replace Van Rooyen in a bid to stabilise the market.
Shortly after Mr Zuma replaced Mr Nene, the rumours began circulating that Mr Ramaphosa had threatened to resign.
CAPE TOWN, Monday
The South African Presidency on Monday denied rumours that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa had threatened to resign in the wake of President Jacob Zuma’s finance minister reshuffle fiasco.
“Deputy President Ramaphosa was and remains part of the government collective that sought to stabilise the Ministry of Finance,” the Presidency said.
The Presidency issued the statement in response to media reports that Mr Ramaphosa was in Lesotho last week when David Van Rooyen, an MP, was sworn in as finance minister
On December 9, President Jacob Zuma appointed Mr Van Rooyen to replace Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, a move that created chaos at the market.
Four days later, Mr Zuma appointed Pravin Gordhan, then Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to replace Van Rooyen in a bid to stabilise the market.
Shortly after Mr Zuma replaced Mr Nene, the rumours began circulating that Mr Ramaphosa had threatened to resign.
INITIALLY SWORN IN
ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte said then that Mr Ramaphosa went to Lesotho when Van Rooyen was initially sworn in, indicating that the deputy president was unhappy about Van Rooyen’s appointment.
“The Presidency wishes to state that on the day of the swearing in of Mr Van Rooyen as Minister of Finance, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was in consultation with a delegation from the office of the Chairperson of the SADC (Southern African Development Communty) Organ Troika and Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi regarding preparations for an urgent visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho,” presidential spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said.
The purpose of the visit was to convey SADC’s concerns regarding a court case that had been brought against the SADC Commission of Inquiry by a Lesotho citizen, Mr Kodwa said. ”As a result of those consultations the visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho (by Ramaphosa) went ahead on 16 December 2015,” Mr Kodwa said.
