The NorthGauteng High Court will hear argument on Thursday in an application by theDemocratic Alliance to compel President Jacob Zuma to reveal the reasons behindhis recent cabinet reshuffle.
Theopposition party turned to the courts to have President Zuma’s decision to firePravin Gordhan and Mcebisi Jonas as Minister and Deputy Ministers of Finance.
DA FederalChairperson, James Selfe, said that “every exercise of public power must besubject to the principles of legality and rationality, especially the exerciseof all of the President’s powers, which includes decisions to appoint ordismiss Ministers and Deputy Ministers.”
“ThePresident ought to have reasonably foreseen the dire consequences of thisreshuffle, given what happened in 2015 when he fired then Finance Minister,Nhlanhla Nene,” Selfe said.
He said theDA believes that the President’s decision should be set aside as it does notmeet the requirements of rationality and is therefore illegal.
“However,in order for his decision to be reviewed and according to Rule 53 of theUnified Rules of Court, the record of decision must be provided, as our urgentapplication seeks to achieve,” said Selfe.
