Press conferences are not my usual fare. Too much spin. And, as news wires do such a great job reporting the relevant stuff, most “pressers” are a waste of time. But occasionally some are unmissable. Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s report-back today after the global roadshow with CEOs and labour leaders is one. It’s at the JSE whose auditorium seats 180. Will be arriving early as there is sure to be standing room only for latecomers.
Of course all will listen politely to the roadshow feedback. But the real point of interest is the battle between Gordhan and his boss President Jacob Zuma; his fight with the Hawks and SARS; and given the Sunday Times’s disclosures, whether the Guptas really did shop around for a Finance Minister before Gordhan was catapulted back into the job.
Some days my work is more interesting than others. This promises to be one of them.
From Biznews community member Ian Jayes
Interesting times indeed.
As with the Minister of Sport, if the Gupta’s didn’t appoint him, Zuma must have at least run it past them beforehand.
That begs the question: Why and why did they inform him of his appointment before he was appointed?
They are obviously very cocksure of their hold over Zuma and want  Ministers to know it.
Which makes this a very frightening situation and a very peculiar constitutional-state.
We have a President who is answerable to the Guptas, who was chosen by the ANC party congress, elected by the ANC majority in Parliament who sit at the pleasure of the ANC at Luthuli House.
So much for our much vaunted democracy. An oligarchy at best and a corrupt one.
