Rogue Minister Mosebenzi Zwane’s head should be on the “chopping block”

03 September 2016

We welcome the news that President Jacob Zuma has distanced himself from Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane's statement recommending a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the termination of banking relationships with Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd. 

However, the statement does not go far enough: it leaves the political door open for some of the bizarre recommendations, supposedly made by the Minister in his personal capacity, to be considered in the future.

The fact is that the task team should never have been established and the Guptas should never have been allowed to effectively “contract” the Executive to carry out a “political hit” on the banking sector, National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank.

What we need is President Jacob Zuma to step up and act decisively by immediately: shutting down the task team looking into the termination of banking relationships with Oakbay Investments (Pty) Ltd; and firing the Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane, from Cabinet.

The Minister's head should be on the “chopping block” and the axe should be allowed to fall, without delay.

Statement issued by David Maynier MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance, 3 September 2016