The ANC said it has accepted that the "irretrievable breakdown" of the relationship between the President and a member of his Cabinet was sufficient explanation for the decision taken by the President to axe Pravin Gordhan as Finance Minister.
In a lengthy statement Wednesday, the ANC’s NWC said that the issue of the intelligence report complicated the matter, creating a lot of unhappiness.
“This was consequently presented as the only reason for his removal which was unfortunate and incorrect,” the NWC.
“The events that unfolded following the announcement of the Cabinet Reshuffle by the President have created anxiety and undue confusion as a result of the discordant views, in particular of the National Officials of the ANC, on the reshuffle,” the ANC said..
“The Officials have given to the NWC a candid report about their serious and difficult disagreement. They have further acknowledged that their public dissonance on the matter was a mistake that should not be committed again.”
The ANC is gravely concerned about the serious breach of confidentiality between ourselves and our Alliance Partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP). This follows from a leak of our discussion held in confidence in a bilateral meeting between the two parties last week Monday.
This leak was subsequently followed by a fully-fledged media briefing on the contents of a closed meeting. The African National Congress intends to raise these matters with the SACP in the next bilateral meeting.
The ANC also acknowledged, against the background of the party’s 52nd National Conference resolution
whose effect is to say that consultation on matters of deployment is a principle of the organization and not a favor.
“It was against this background and following in-depth discussions that the National Officials acknowledged shortcomings in their collective management of the Cabinet reshuffle,” the ANC said.
“Whilst the President is not obligated to make public the reasons for the removal of Ministers from Cabinet, the Officials reported to the NWC on the removal of Comrade Pravin Gordhan in particular as Minister of Finance.”
The ANC and its government said it remained firmly committed to sound and prudent financial management.
“The ANC has full confidence in the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Comrade Malusi Gigaba and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Comrade Sfiso Buthelezi. We will offer them our unequivocal support in executing the budget that was tabled by Comrade Pravin Gordhan following approval by Cabinet after thoroughgoing consultations.”
