Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has defended President Jacob Zuma’s decision to recall Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan from an overseas investor roadshow.<\/p>\n
There was nothing wrong in Zuma summoning Gordhan, she wrote in a column News24 published on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Muthambi, a close ally of Zuma’s, said he was within his constitutional rights to cancel Gordhan\u2019s trip.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverlooked in this hysteria is the obvious; all Ministers serve at the pleasure and behest of the President. This is a constitutional prerogative.\u201d<\/p>\n
She accused the media of creating the \u201cmyth of a defiant and super-minister in Minister Gordhan\u201d.<\/p>\n
It must have been difficult for the media to come to terms with the fact that Gordhan\u2019s powers are limited.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn one fell swoop their investment in projecting an image of a powerless President went up in smoke,\u201d Muthambi wrote.<\/p>\n
The markets, banks, and rating agencies could not remove Zuma\u2019s constitutionally-enshrined powers. Financial markets could not be used to hold the country to ransom.<\/p>\n
She said the Competition Commission had shown the rand was easy to manipulate, while ratings agencies have had to pay fines for \u201ccorrupt\u201d practices.<\/p>\n
Cabinet reshuffle speculation<\/strong><\/p>\n Zuma\u2019s recall of Gordhan from the UK fuelled speculation that a Cabinet reshuffle was imminent.<\/p>\n Bloomberg quoted senior SACP leaders saying Zuma had told them he was planning to fire Gordhan.<\/p>\n On Monday, Zuma removed Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe from heading the inter-ministerial committee on communications. Zuma would now do so himself, with Muthambi\u2019s help.<\/p>\n This was seen as a slap in the face of Parliament, which had asked that Zuma censure her for her role in the crisis at the SABC. On March 7, the National Assembly adopted the report of the ad hoc committee that investigated the public broadcaster\u2019s board and its fitness for office.<\/p>\n It found Muthambi \u201cdisplayed incompetence\u201d in carrying out her duties and recommended that Zuma \u201cseriously reconsider\u201d keeping her in her job. Muthambi was taking the report on review.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the DA criticised Zuma for \u201cpromoting\u201d Muthambi to co-chair of the inter-ministerial committee.<\/p>\n \u201cPresident Zuma has for too long undermined the authority of Parliament, in protecting himself and members of his Cabinet against accountability,\u201d DA MP Phumzile van Damme said in a statement.<\/p>\n The party intended asking Zuma why he ignored the ad hoc committee\u2019s recommendation to fire Muthambi. It would ask Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene as leader of government business.<\/p>\n