Nene was removed because of weakening rand, says Zuma
by Wire Staff,
2016-03-17 15:43:04.0
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma says former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene was removed from the post for reasons of government — "the rand was on a downward slope".
However, the ouster of Mr Nene on December 9 resulted in a dramatic slide in the rand.
But Mr Zuma‚ responding to questions in Parliament‚ said: "I have acted many times in changing ministers. There are always reasons if a minister has to be shifted or redeployed. There is no action in terms of removal or replacing ministers without reasons.
"There were reasons why Minister Nene had to be redeployed. They were reasons of government. Before Nene left‚ the rand was on a downward slope," he said.
Responding to a question by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane regarding the claim by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had offered him the position of finance minister‚ Mr Zuma said if Jonas said that‚ he and the Guptas should be asked the question.
After clearing his throat and laughing‚ Mr Zuma replied: "You would be well-placed to ask Jonas or the Guptas. Don’t ask me. I am in charge of the government. I appoint‚ in terms of the constitution. There is no minister who is here who was ever appointed by the Guptas or by anybody else."
Mr Maimane was ordered out of the chamber after he contested Mr Zuma’s assertion that the rand was weakening before Mr Nene was removed. The DA MPs then left the house en masse.
Mr Zuma ended up answering questions to only the African National Congress and a handful of smaller parties after the DA walked out of the National Assembly and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) did not take up their seats on Thursday.
The EFF did not take up their seats because they do not recognise Mr Zuma as President of the country and would not legitimise him by participating in presidential question time.
Mr Jonas on Wednesday said he was approached by the Gupta family and offered the job as finance minister.
"Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of minister of finance to replace then minister Nene, I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of the offer is that it makes a mockery of our constitution and hard-earned democracy," he said. "No one apart from the president appoints ministers."
Mr Jonas missed Mr Zuma’s question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday afternoon. He was in East London, where he was expected to meet some African National Congress leaders in the province.
Mr Jonas also attended the Mercedes-Benz SA annual business results presentation‚ as well as the opening of the Mercedes-Benz Learning Academy.
He was seen with premier Phumulo Masualle at the event. Mr Jonas was seen laughing and greeting journalists at the event‚ but was tight-lipped about the Gupta saga.
TMG Digital
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma says former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene was removed from the post for reasons of government — "the rand was on a downward slope".
However, the ouster of Mr Nene on December 9 resulted in a dramatic slide in the rand.
But Mr Zuma‚ responding to questions in Parliament‚ said: "I have acted many times in changing ministers. There are always reasons if a minister has to be shifted or redeployed. There is no action in terms of removal or replacing ministers without reasons.
"There were reasons why Minister Nene had to be redeployed. They were reasons of government. Before Nene left‚ the rand was on a downward slope," he said.
Responding to a question by Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane regarding the claim by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had offered him the position of finance minister‚ Mr Zuma said if Jonas said that‚ he and the Guptas should be asked the question.
After clearing his throat and laughing‚ Mr Zuma replied: "You would be well-placed to ask Jonas or the Guptas. Don’t ask me. I am in charge of the government. I appoint‚ in terms of the constitution. There is no minister who is here who was ever appointed by the Guptas or by anybody else."
Mr Maimane was ordered out of the chamber after he contested Mr Zuma’s assertion that the rand was weakening before Mr Nene was removed. The DA MPs then left the house en masse.
Mr Zuma ended up answering questions to only the African National Congress and a handful of smaller parties after the DA walked out of the National Assembly and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) did not take up their seats on Thursday.
The EFF did not take up their seats because they do not recognise Mr Zuma as President of the country and would not legitimise him by participating in presidential question time.
Mr Jonas on Wednesday said he was approached by the Gupta family and offered the job as finance minister.
"Members of the Gupta family offered me the position of minister of finance to replace then minister Nene, I rejected this out of hand. The basis of my rejection of the offer is that it makes a mockery of our constitution and hard-earned democracy," he said. "No one apart from the president appoints ministers."
Mr Jonas missed Mr Zuma’s question-and-answer session in Parliament on Thursday afternoon. He was in East London, where he was expected to meet some African National Congress leaders in the province.
Mr Jonas also attended the Mercedes-Benz SA annual business results presentation‚ as well as the opening of the Mercedes-Benz Learning Academy.
He was seen with premier Phumulo Masualle at the event. Mr Jonas was seen laughing and greeting journalists at the event‚ but was tight-lipped about the Gupta saga.
TMG Digital
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