South Africa Presidency denies change in cabinet

The Presidency on Sunday denied rumours that President Jacob Zuma has made changes in his cabinet.

"The Presidency condemns the actions of information peddlers who keep spreading rumours about alleged changes in the Cabinet of President Jacob Zuma," presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

The Sunday Times reported that a cabinet change would be imminent because Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan could soon be arrested after anti-crime unit, the Hawks, reportedly handed a docket over to the National Prosecuting Authority for his involvement in the SA Revenue Service's (SARS) "rogue unit"which was allegedly spying on taxpayers during his time as SARS' commissioner.

"Ministers serve at the pleasure of the President. He has the prerogative to hire and fire Ministers at any time. Despite that, the Presidency issued a statement recently communicating that there were no plans to change the Minister of Finance," Ngqulunga said in a statement.

Information peddlers have also been spreading false rumours about changes in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), he said.

A statement was also issued recently rebutting the DTI rumours.

The president and government are focused on the goal of uniting business, labour, government and the whole country behind the mission of strengthening the economy and reigniting growth during the current difficult economic climate, said the spokesperson.

A lot of progress is being made in this regard and work will continue to fight the slow growth so that jobs can be saved and created, he added. Endit