Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi says President Jacob Zuma has the right to hire and fire as he pleases‚ without providing reasons.
“I did constitutional law on non-degree purposes and I know‚ having run the KwaZulu government‚ [that] when a head government makes a decision in his Cabinet‚ as far as I know‚ he is not obliged to consult anyone. So this [court] decision is very interesting because‚ if the judge is correct‚ it means that we are moving away from there‚” said Buthelezi on Friday.
He was speaking to TMG Digital on the sidelines of the National Foundations Dialogue Initiative (NFDI)‚ at the first of a series of dialogues to discuss the future of the country that included former presidents Thabo Mbeki‚ FW de Klerk and Kgalema Motlanthe‚ and former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. The initiative is underpinned by eight foundations: Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe‚ FW de Klerk‚ Thabo Mbeki‚ Helen Suzman‚ Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy‚ Umlambo‚ Chief Albert Luthuli and Jakes Gerwel.
ANC lashes out at judge who wants Zuma to explain reshuffleThe ANC has lashed out at the North Gauteng High Court after it ordered President Jacob Zuma to explain his reasons for firing former finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas.
Buthelezi’s remarks follow ruling to the Democratic Alliance’s application to force Zuma to disclose his reasons for reshuffling his Cabinet on March 30.
Buthelezi said the president’s decision to recall‚ appoint and remove 20 ministers and deputy ministers could be the catalyst for change that is needed to see African National Congress MPs speak for South Africans.
In the wake of concerted efforts to oust Zuma in a multi-part briefing last month‚ Buthelezi said at the time: “We must allow this to run its course. Whether or not another vote of no confidence is likely to succeed‚ it must be attempted‚ for we must exhaust every avenue to protect our country.”
Also present at Friday’s event was former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas‚ who said such dialogues were necessary in the current political climate.
“Our country is in a crisis whether we like it or not. The liberation movement is in a crisis so it’s important for South Africans to start talking about the future but to also to try to have a common understanding of the problems we are facing as a country. At the moment‚ I think current sovereignties with political parties are not with the people [yet] at the centre of any democracy are the people‚” said Jonas.
He said he hoped that the dialogues would bring about solutions that would address current problems facing the country‚ including the low economic growth and state capture.
IFP’s Buthelezi says JZ has right to reshuffle cabinet‚ Jonas calls for solutions
Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi says President Jacob Zuma has the right to hire and fire as he pleases‚ without providing reasons.
“I did constitutional law on non-degree purposes and I know‚ having run the KwaZulu government‚ [that] when a head government makes a decision in his Cabinet‚ as far as I know‚ he is not obliged to consult anyone. So this [court] decision is very interesting because‚ if the judge is correct‚ it means that we are moving away from there‚” said Buthelezi on Friday.
He was speaking to TMG Digital on the sidelines of the National Foundations Dialogue Initiative (NFDI)‚ at the first of a series of dialogues to discuss the future of the country that included former presidents Thabo Mbeki‚ FW de Klerk and Kgalema Motlanthe‚ and former deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. The initiative is underpinned by eight foundations: Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe‚ FW de Klerk‚ Thabo Mbeki‚ Helen Suzman‚ Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy‚ Umlambo‚ Chief Albert Luthuli and Jakes Gerwel.
Buthelezi’s remarks follow ruling to the Democratic Alliance’s application to force Zuma to disclose his reasons for reshuffling his Cabinet on March 30.
Buthelezi said the president’s decision to recall‚ appoint and remove 20 ministers and deputy ministers could be the catalyst for change that is needed to see African National Congress MPs speak for South Africans.
In the wake of concerted efforts to oust Zuma in a multi-part briefing last month‚ Buthelezi said at the time: “We must allow this to run its course. Whether or not another vote of no confidence is likely to succeed‚ it must be attempted‚ for we must exhaust every avenue to protect our country.”
Also present at Friday’s event was former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas‚ who said such dialogues were necessary in the current political climate.
“Our country is in a crisis whether we like it or not. The liberation movement is in a crisis so it’s important for South Africans to start talking about the future but to also to try to have a common understanding of the problems we are facing as a country. At the moment‚ I think current sovereignties with political parties are not with the people [yet] at the centre of any democracy are the people‚” said Jonas.
He said he hoped that the dialogues would bring about solutions that would address current problems facing the country‚ including the low economic growth and state capture.
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