Sacked SA finance minister rubbishes conspiracy allegations against him

South Africa’s outgoing Finance Minister Pravind Gordhan has on Friday rubbished alleged conspiracy accusations that led to his sack by President Jacob Zuma.

He said during a televised press conference in Pretoria that the intelligence report that linked him to a massive conspiracy to undermine the country was “absolute nonsense”.

“This is the so-called intelligence report, this is the so-called intelligence report which said that amongst others, the two of us and the director-general are involved in this massive conspiracy to undermine the economy of this country. And if you read this, this is absolute nonsense,” Gordhan said.

“This is not the basis upon which you fire, inverted commas, or release from their responsibilities, which in a more polite way, by the way ladies and gentleman of saying it, a minister of finance and a deputy minister of finance,” he added.

Pravind Gordhan was recalled from an investor roadshow in London by Zuma due to alleged secret meetings to undermine the government at the event.

President Zuma reshuffled his cabinet a few minutes after Thursday midnight with Gordhan losing his job including four other ministers.

Gordhan received a lot of support from the public and some members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) which is divided on the matter.

However, South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has received the backing of firebrand Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party to table a motion of no confidence against Zuma for the reshuffle.

The leader of the DA party, Mmusi Maimane said the party has instituted an urgent legal action at the Western Cape High Court to halt the swearing in of the new ministers set to take place Friday evening.