Zuma is now playing a very dangerous game. What is he scared of?
Perhaps it is the urgency of not keeping the Russians waiting. Yes, the
Russians are in town to sign the nuclear deal. While the Russians are in
town, it would not be appropriate for the President to be cited in a
state capture report. Perhaps it would be embarrassing for Zuma if
Pravin Gordhan refuses to sign a deal that will sink South Africa.
In a surprise move today, President Jacob Zuma served a notice of
intention to apply for an interdict. It is an interdict to stop the
outgoing public protector Thuli Madonsela from releasing the interim
report on state capture. The interdict to stop the report being released
can only mean one thing, that the state is captured.
The charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan once again
confirm that the Zuma administration is devious and under immense
pressure. The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation says it considers the charges
against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan as nothing more than an attempt
to remove him from his post.
Zuma has strategically placed his people in all the relevant
departments and the crown jewel would be capturing SARS and Treasury.
Well, I guess if he does get this right, we will certainly be in for a
rough time. Let’s hope Gordhan uses all the resources he has to prevent
the Zuma conquest becoming a reality. Let us hope that Gordhan remains
honorable and does not bow down to corruption and bribery.
Besides the #FeesMustFall protests that seem to have no end. There
are no leadership strategies in place to stop the spiraling criminal
elements behind these protests. Julius Malema was summonsed today for
two charges are in contravention of section 18 (2) (b) of the Riotous
Assemblies Act. The summons alleges that on the December 16, during the
party’s elective conference, Malema incited party members to commit a
crime, by occupying any vacant land they came across. A second summons
indicated that he has been charged a second time for a similar
transgression for making the same call in Newcastle on the June 26.
It is public knowledge that Madonsela is investigating the Gupta
family and its alleged attempts to appoint ministers in President Zuma’s
cabinet. Earlier this year – in a press statement, Jonas openly
admitted that the Gupta family offered him the position of Minister of
Finance, a few weeks before Minister Nene was removed. Jonas rejected
the offer and believed that it makes a mockery of the democracy.
President Jacob Zuma is the person responsible for appointing ministers.
It is constitutionally unethical to allow the Gupta family to make a
decision about whom to appoint. This is especially true in the Ministry
of Finance where corruption and apparent state capture is particularly
vulnerable.
It is an aggressive, threatening move, yet the ANC respects the
decision of President Zuma. The ANC will always rally behind Zuma, even
if the decisions are detrimental to the stability of South Africa. It is
an aggressive abuse of power by Zuma, who is sending a negative message
to the people of South Africa and the international community.
Perhaps what Julius Malema the leader of the Economic Freedom
Fighters (EFF) said sums up the entire saga? “Expecting the ANC to act
against Gupta is like expecting a pig to eat a pudding”.
Published on South Africa Today – South Africa News
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