Nhlanhla Nene asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire him - report

ANC meeting to discuss finance minister's fate after revelations at state capture inquiry

08 October 2018 - 07:36 By TimesLIVE and SowetanLIVE
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Nhlanhla Nene, the minister of finance, testifies at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture in Parktown, Johannesburg on October 3 2018.
Nhlanhla Nene, the minister of finance, testifies at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture in Parktown, Johannesburg on October 3 2018.
Image: Thapelo Morebudi

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to relieve him of his duties.

The Sowetan reported on Monday that the finance minister approached the president over the weekend with the request.

This comes as South Africans as well as political parties rejected his apology for previously undisclosed meetings with the Guptas at Saxonwold and their business premises in Midrand from 2010 to 2014. 

Serious questions are now being raised about Nene’s credibility, particularly over whether the Guptas had any role in his previous deployments as minister and deputy minister of finance, and whether he ever acted under their instruction.

Ramaphosa 'very shocked'

The Sunday Times reported that when he was reappointed to cabinet in February, Nene did not disclose to Ramaphosa that he had seven meetings with the Guptas during his previous stint as finance minister and as deputy minister before that.

In a detailed response to questions from the Sunday Times, Nene said he did not think that the meetings he had had with the Guptas were relevant for the purpose his my appointment but “looking back I should have informed the president then, or subsequently”.

Ramaphosa was also apparently unaware that Nene was to make an apology to the nation on Friday for meeting the Guptas at their home and not disclosing the details earlier. He is said to be “very shocked” at the revelations of Nene’s relationship with the Guptas but is understood to have not yet discussed the matter and the future of the finance ministry with him.

High-profile insiders in the presidency say Ramaphosa is in a quandary about what to do as the storm around Nene undermines attempts to clean up the government and stabilise the National Treasury after years of volatility during the Zuma administration.

ANC officials are believed to be discussing Nene at a retreat‚ which ends on Monday.


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