News / Africa
Gordhan planned to discredit Jacob Zuma in the US
29 Mar 2017 at 18:42hrs | Views
A report stating that finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, planned to meet foreign businesses to discredit President Jacob Zuma is believed to be the reason for their recall from the overseas trip, the City Press reported.
It is alleged that a report called "Operation Checkmate," was presented to the top six officials of the ANC on Monday as evidence to show why Gordhan and Jonas deserved to be recalled.
The two were abruptly recalled from their investor road trip to the United Kingdom and United States of America on Monday, with the presidency issuing a one sentence statement without any reason. But the document suggests that they were suspected of being in cahoots with international bankers in some conspiracy against the president.
According to the document: "The bankers are going to be told that the Ministry of Finance and Treasury stand together against the President and the corruption of the Gupta's. They will also be told that there is a movement to fire finance minster Pravin Gordhan and deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas and treasury director general Lungisa Fuzile by the president".
Fuzile told journalists on his way out that he still did not know why the finance team was summoned back to the country.
The document goes on to say: "They (the investors) will be given proof of what they are selling of the corruption by the Gupta's and how the investment banks need to stand to fight the president. They (Gordhan and Jonas) will inform the banks that if they are fired the financial markets in South Africa will collapse and the rand will go to 18 to 20 to the dollar. They will also tell the banks that they have the support of many in ANC and other parties to force the president out."
The ANC did not respond to queries on the document.
Source - City Press
