Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas has resigned as an ANC member of Parliament, the party confirmed on Thursday.
"Comrade Jonas has served both as Deputy Minister and MP with absolute distinction and dedication," the office of the ANC Chief Whip said in a statement.
Office of the ANC CW confirms the resignation of former Deputy Finance Minister & ANC MP Cde Mcebisi Jonas as an MP effective 31 March 2017.
— ANC Parliament (@ANCParliament) April 6, 2017
Jonas was removed from his position along with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan last week during a late night Cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma. The move has evoked widespread criticism from unions, civil society groups and the opposition, and has revived pressure on Zuma to quit.
What did Zuma say to Mantashe‚ Ramaphosa? President Jacob Zuma said something to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe‚ deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and treasurer general Zweli Mkhize to make them change their minds about his cabinet reshuffle‚ according to TV channel ANN7.
S&P Global Ratings cited Gordhan's departure as one reason for its downgrade of South Africa to 'junk' in an unscheduled credit rating review on Monday, a move that is set to push up the country's borrowing costs.
The latest news comes in the wake of the resignation of Director General of National Treasury Lungisa Fuzile as well as former transport minister Dipuo Peters.
This is a developing story.