Julius Malema says if Speaker Baleka Mbete refuses to allow a motion of no confidence in President Zuma, the red berets will take her to court.
JOHANNESBURG – Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malemasays it’s now clear the country has been captured.
He also says the EFF needs 70 African National Congress members of Parliament to vote with them in a possible motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.
Malema says if Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete refuses to allow the motion, the red berets will take her to court.
Malema is currently holding a briefing in Braamfontein.
The EFF leader says they have been in consultations with organisations which are at an advanced stage.
“We have been engaged in serious different meetings since 5am this morning. We’ve met very strategic people, both inside and outside the Cabinet and leaders of churches. We are working on a strategy on how best can we remove Zuma.”
At the same time, Pravin Gordhan says he has already spoken to new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and congratulated him on his new appointment and they’ll meet on Monday.
“So that we can take him through key issues that he has to deal with once he takes responsibility as finance minister with his deputy. Whatever has happened doesn’t mean we will not be professional in the way we conduct ourselves and we’ll ensure that there’s maximum stability and continuity in the kind of issues that Treasury has to deal with.”
Gordhan made the comments flanked by his Mcebisi Jonas at a staff briefing at Treasury earlier on Friday.
The minister says he found out he was fired from television reports and was not personally informed of Zuma’s decision.
Gordhan says both he and Jonas will be very adamant about one main issue.
“The institutions that fell under the ministry of finance must constantly be reminded, if they forget, that they are here to serve the South African public and no narrow interests.”
He then commended Jonas in what was a clear reference to the Gupta family’s alleged corrupt behaviour.
“We commend the deputy minister for his stance earlier last year in saying he was offered a bag of cash. If you do commend him, you can clap. One thing we must emphasise is that our souls are not for sale.”
Meanwhile, Treasury has confirmed that Gigaba has met with Director General Lungisa Fuzile whose briefed him on the most pertinent and urgent issues.
He’s due to have a “meet and greet” with members of the executive committee this afternoon.
Friday’s Treasury visit is taking place ahead of an official handover with outgoing Gordhan on Monday.
In his latest remarks, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says government will remain stable after Gordhan’s removal.
Earlier, he made it clear that he stood firmly against the axing.
Former president Thabo Mbeki has also reacted, warning that if the president doesn’t explain his actions properly and honestly, the country risks major and very serious social instability.
Mbeki says the reshuffle comes at a time when there has been much persistent and serious public concern and unease about the state of South Africa and he’s absolutely certain the president’s move will further deepen that concern.
The statesman says he hopes Zuma will take the necessary and urgent steps to explain to the country more than he has, why the changes were necessary and in the public interest.
Meanwhile, retired Constitutional Court Judge Zak Yacoob has called on Zuma to resign, saying he is everything the ANC doesn’t stand for.
He believes Zuma only wanted to get rid of Gordhan but the other ministers and deputy ministers were caught in the cross-fire.
Yacoob says Gordhan was doing things the right way while Zuma wanted to do things in a “roguish” way.
“My own view is that we have to get much worse before we get better and I hope our rogue president does lots more miserable things quite quickly so that we can reach the bottom level. It’s like getting rid of the sand and getting to the foundation from which we can grow again.”
Both the women’s league and the youth league of the ANC have welcomed the Cabinet shake-up.
Christa Eybers | In a late-night move on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma released a statement saying that he had decided to make changes to the National Executive in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
(Edited by Winnie Theletsane)
http://ewn.co.za/2017/03/31/malema-it-s-clear-sa-has-been-captured