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S. African Presidency denies Zuma in "war" with finance minister

Xinhua, May 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The South African Presidency on Friday denied allegations that President Jacob Zuma is engaged in a certain "war" with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

"The Presidency strongly condemns the toxic narrative that is being promoted in the media that insinuates that President Jacob Zuma is engaged in a certain 'war' with the Minister of Finance," presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

The narrative is being peddled in local and foreign media and some sections of business that the president is fighting his finance minister and the National Treasury in order to take control of the Treasury, said Ngqulunga.

There have been rumours that Zuma would sack Gordhan more than five months after his appointment. The Business Day newspaper reported earlier this month that Gordhan and Zuma "are in a covert battle".

Zuma and his allies are digging in, bolstering their position wherever possible and popularising the narrative that Zuma and the African National Congress (ANC) are under threat from hostile quarters, both foreign and domestic, and must be protected, the report said.

Zuma and Gordhan reportedly differed on a range of issues such as fiscal prudence and the fate of state entities including SA Airways, and the state's massive nuclear deal.

The Presidency said in its Friday statement that it should be noted that the president controls all government departments including the National Treasury, as the head of government, and by virtue of the fact he appoints ministers and they report to him.

All government departments also report to the president via their respective ministers, the Presidency said.

"It is therefore absurd to say that the president would be engaged in a struggle to control a government department that he already controls, and also when he actually controls the whole of government," said the Presidency.

The primary objective of the president and government is to unite the nation behind the goals of reigniting growth in order to preserve and create jobs during the difficult economic climate, Ngqulunga said.

"The Presidency trusts that the information peddlers will allow South Africa the space to focus on this national imperative and refrain from the perpetual spreading of false rumours," he said. Endit