The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jacob Zuma

  • S/Africa opposition asks court to cancel removal of finance minister

    S/Africa opposition asks court to cancel removal of finance minister

    South Africa’s largest opposition party has filed a court application against President Jacob Zuma’s decision to fire finance minister Pravin Gordhan.

    The Democratic Alliance (DA) described the sacking of Gordhan as a big blow to the economy.

    DA asked the North Gauteng High Court to cancel the decision “on the grounds that it was irrational, and therefore unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid,” the party said in a statement.

    The DA is also seeking an emergency session of parliament to handle a no-confidence motion against Zuma and has called for nationwide protests against the president on Friday.

    It said members of Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC) had threatened it with violence and that it would file criminal charges against them while going ahead with the peaceful protests.

    Gordhan had enjoyed the confidence of investors, and Zuma replaced him with the inexperienced Malusi Gigaba just as the country’s economic growth slowed to 0.3 per cent last year. More than a quarter of the workforce is unemployed.

    The sacking of Gordhan prompted the rating agency Standard and Poor’s to downgrade South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to junk status on Monday, sending the rand into free fall. Other rating agencies were expected to follow suit.

    “Zuma’s decision is likely to cost yet more jobs and will have a lasting and calamitous impact on ordinary South Africans,” the DA said.

    The Gordhan affair has threatened to split the ANC, some of whose senior officials reportedly back calls for Zuma to resign.

    But on Wednesday, ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said the party still stood behind the president.

     

  • COSATU calls for Zuma to step down

    South Africa’s largest trade union confederation on Tuesday joined the ranks of President Jacob Zuma’s critics and called on him to step down.

    Traditionally an ally to Zuma’s African National Congress party, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said it no longer trusted Zuma’s leadership.

    COSATU said it became worried about Zuma,s leadership after his decision to sack finance minister Pravin Gordhan prompted the rating agency Standard and Poor’s to downgrade the country’s sovereign credit rating to junk status.

    Speaking at a press conference, COSATU Secretary General Bheki Ntshalintshali said that Zuma was no longer the “right person” to lead the country.

    “The time has arrived for the president to step down.

    “We no longer believe in his leadership qualities,” he said.

    The New Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said he would lead a delegation with stakeholders to meet with rating agencies.

    NAN reports that on March 30, Leader of a South African opposition party, Julius Malema, filed for disciplinary or impeachment proceedings against Zuma in a court application.

    Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), said the application to the Constitutional Court would seek to order the Speaker of Parliament to institute the action against Zuma.

    He said the filing was linked to a decision by the Constitutional Court in March 2016, when it ordered Zuma to return some of the 16 million dollars spent on enhancing his residence at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal province.

    Zuma has since has taken out a home loan to repay some of the state money.

    The ultra-left EFF party said in a statement the Nkandla saga “renders him (Zuma) unfit to hold the high office of President.”

    NAN recalls that the case was brought by the EFF and the Democratic Alliance.

    The court ruled Zuma violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home.

    It gave the treasury 60 days to determine how much he should repay.

    The ruling is a victory for the opposition, who said they would push for Zuma’s impeachment.

    They accused him of using “ill-gotten wealth” to upgrade his home with a swimming pool and amphitheatre.

    Zuma has denied any wrongdoing.

     

  • Sacked S. Africa’s finance minister says intelligence report used to fire him “nonsense”

    South Africa’s outgoing Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Friday an intelligence report President Jacob Zuma used as justification to fire him was “absolute nonsense”.

    Gordhan also said during a televised press conference in Pretoria that he had been “sickened” by allegations that he had secret meetings to undermine the government during an investor roadshow abroad.

    In a similar vein, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday he told Zuma that he disagreed with his decision to sack Gordhan.

    “I told the President so, that I would not agree with him on his reasoning to remove the minister of finance,” Ramaphosa told reporters.

    However, Ramaphosa also told public broadcaster SABC TV that the government would remain stable after the sacking of Gordhan and would tell ratings agencies that its institutions were strong.

    Zuma’s midnight sacking of his finance minister shook South African financial markets and increased the chances of costly downgrades to its investment grade sovereign ratings.

    NAN reports that Appointed in 2015 after a predecessor’s sudden sacking, Gordhan was in London for the first leg of a week-long non-deal investor roadshow in Britain and the U.S.

    Weak economic growth and tensions within the ruling party African National Congress (ANC) have put South Africa’s investment grade credit rating at risk.

    The rand fell as much as 1.7 per cent following the report, while bonds weakened sharply.

    Banking shares on the Johannesburg bourse fell more than two per cent.

    A government source said: “they were told last night or this morning to come back… the presidency did not give permission for the trip.”

    The president’s office could not be reached for comment.

    Africa’s most industrialised economy escaped being downgraded to junk status last year.

    S and P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings both rank the sovereign one level above junk, while Moody’s puts it two notches higher.

    Moody’s, which put South Africa on negative watch in its latest review, is due to revisit that on April 7, followed by S and P at the beginning of June.

    Gordhan’s team on the trip to London, Boston and New York included deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas and Treasury director general Lungisa Fuzile, as well as business executives and union leaders.

     

  • Xenophobia: South African police fire rubber bullets at protesters

    South African police on Friday fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to break up violent clashes between machete and rock wielding protesters and migrants in Pretoria at an anti-immigration march.

    That was shortly after President Jacob Zuma condemned acts of violence by his fellow countrymen against foreigners, particularly Nigerians.

    Shops and homes owned by Nigerians have been looted and torched over the last two weeks.

    Some South Africans branded the properties as brothels and drug dens.

    The violence is the latest in a series by South African who are groaning under high unemployment and dire poverty.

    Riot police in Pretoria formed lines to keep apart about 1,000 protesters as tensions rose between some South Africans and migrants from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Pakistan and elsewhere.

    South African marcher Aysha Ali, 25, daubed Nigerians as “very bad.”

    “They are bringing drugs into our community. I support the protest,” he said.

    Some officers shot rubber rounds at close range at protesters lying on the ground.

    President Zuma condemned the xenophobic unrest, and acknowledged the “destruction of property directed at non-nationals.”

    “Residents in some communities blame non-nationals for the escalating crimes especially drug trafficking,” he said in a statement issued by his office.

    He added: “Many citizens of other countries living in South Africa are law abiding and contribute to the economy of the country positively.

    “It is wrong to brandish all non-nationals as drug dealers or human traffickers.

    “The threats and counter-threats on social media must stop.”

    He asked South Africans to refrain from using migrants as a scapegoat for the country’s widespread crime problems, but was quick to add that government would crack down on drug-dealing and illegal immigrants.

    Nigeria earlier in the week told the African Union to step in to stop “xenophobic attacks” on its citizens in South Africa, and recalled that 20 Nigerians were killed last year.

    Pretoria disputed the figure, and blamed many violent deaths in the country on criminal activity rather than anti-immigrant sentiment.

     

     

  • Zuma condemns violence against foreigners

    Zuma condemns violence against foreigners

    South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has condemned acts of violence between citizens and non-nationals, his office said on Friday.

    Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in South Africa against a background of near-record unemployment, with foreigners being accused of taking jobs from citizens and getting involved in crime.

    Citizens in Pretoria are set to march against foreigners on Friday and domestic media are reporting vandalism and acts of violence in the Atteridgeville area west of the capital.

    At least 20 stores in Pretoria owned by foreigners were looted on Tuesday, but police could not confirm that the attacks had deliberately targeted foreigners.

    “Many citizens of other countries living in South Africa are law abiding and contribute to the economy of the country positively.

    “It is wrong to brandish all non-nationals as drug dealers or human traffickers.

    “The threats and counter-threats on social media must stop,” Zuma said in a statement.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government on Thursday urged the South African government to put in place measures to end the incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.

    Minister of State Foreign Affairs Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, gave the task in Abuja during a second summon to the High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Mr Lulu Aaron-Mnguni, on the issue.

    NAN recalls that the Ministry had on Monday, summoned the South Africa High Commissioner over the matter.

    NAN also reports that Nigerian buildings, properties and places of worship worth millions of dollars were destroyed by South Africans on Feb. 5 and 18.

    “The Federal Government strongly urges the South African government to take all necessary measures to protect the lives and foreigners living and working in South Africa.

    “Furthermore, the federal government urges the South African Government to bring perpetrators of these deplorable acts of violence to justice.

    “The ministry continues to urge Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and law abiding, and be vigilant at the same time.’’

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria will strenuously work towards the protection of Nigerians everywhere, including in South Africa,” she added.

    However, the minister said that no Nigerian lost their lives in the attacks contrary to reports in some media.

    According to her, the reports that mentioned the killing of Nigerians in the xenophobic attacks are unsubstantiated.

    “The ministry has not received the report of any death of Nigerian in the latest incidents of attacks against foreigners.

    “The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria is in constant touch with the Nigerian Union in South Africa, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa, as well as the South African police.

    “All these agencies have confirmed that no Nigerian life was lost in the recent incident,” she said.

     

  • Court blocks Zuma’s appeal on corruption charges

    South Africa’s High Court on Friday said President Jacob Zuma had no grounds to appeal against a court ruling that corruption charges against him should be reinstated.

    The same court had in April ordered a review of a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority to set aside hundreds of charges against Zuma, Reuters reported.

    It was not immediately clear if the president would appeal Friday’s ruling.

  • MTN, NCC: At the end of the tunnel…

    MTN, NCC: At the end of the tunnel…

    When the Federal Communications Commission announced its intent to fine multinational telecommunication giant AT&T $100 for violating a provision of the agency’s Net neutrality regulations in 2015, many subscribers threw their weight behind the move describing it as a people-friendly action.

    However, observers from around the world expressed eagerness to see the end game of that huge sanction especially as the FCC’s fine was the largest the agency has ever proposed at the time.

    Similarly, Nigeria became the focus of Africa and indeed the world when a gargantuan fine of N780 billion was imposed on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), leaving the company in an uncertain state of what seemed to be its worst regulatory encounter in Nigeria. Like the fine on AT&T, local and international observers followed every related detail through the varying phases, the twists and turns surrounding the MTN/NCC regulatory debacle.

    It will be recalled that for about a period of six months intense consultations, negotiations, and renegotiations were ongoing. The historic visit made by South African President Jacob Zuma, MTN’s acquisition of a foreign lawyer, the withdrawal of the case from court and even the N50billion good faith payment were all significant scenes in the protracted debacle.

    None of these attempts seemed to proffer an amicable solution. As time wore on many interested and sometimes active observers eventually resigned to enjoy the back and forth concluding that the players neither understood or appreciated the long-term effect of the prolonged process of reacing an amicable settlement, thus we all waited.

    When the NCC announced its decision to review the fine to N300billion, the news did more than provide an amicable solution, but also created an all round way forward for virtually all involved. Indeed, it marked a fruitful end of that enduring regulatory crisis.

    Commenting on the decision the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta said: “Our decision was taken based on professionalism and global best practices and in line with the NCC values to be fair, firm and forthright”.

    According to the EVC, the Commission has always carried industry and stakeholders along in taking transparent regulatory actions, adding that at no point will the regulator do anything to jeopardise the business health of the entire sector.

    Although not many would have predicted a conclusion this orderly, following earlier failed attempts in a development that saw  top executive officers Sifiso Dabengwa, the Group CEO; Mike Ikpoki, CEO of MTN Nigeria; and Akinwale Goodluck, Director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs MTN Nigeria take a bow, despite this  the disposition of Nigerian lawmakers did little to convince observers that the debacle was headed for a conclusion this calm.

    The reduction meant more than just a passive compromise to an obvious entanglement, it carried implications that cushioned the effect of the protracted debacle for those involved.  Apart from the reduction, the flexible payment plan also gives MTN enough payment span and breathing space, as it provides that the balance of N280 billion would be made in six tranches within a period of three years.

    Interestingly and in spite of the odd, significant strides were made by the company within the period under consideration some of which includes the acquisition of the Visafone CDMA technology platform, securing a license to stream TV contents and the launch of digital TV channels, and  being granted the operating licence to continue its extensive provision of service as an opportunity to demonstrate the company’s commitment to sustaining a beneficial relationship and increase it contribution to the development of the Nation’s economy through ICT.

    Analysts believe that the most fruitful aspect of the agreement between MTN and NCC is the news that MTN Nigeria would be listed on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) as soon as it is commercially and legally possible to do so. Nigerians are already anticipating it, with many analysts predicting that the listing will help balance the Nigerian bourse, giving investors’ options for sector rotation while reducing volatility associated with monotony of few names in the market.

    The statement of the MTN Group Executive Chairman, Phutuma Nhleko is perhaps the truest reflection of the implication of the reduced fine  “this is the best outcome for the company, its stakeholders, the Federal Government and the Nigerian people and the relationship between MTN”, the Federal Government and the NCC has been restored and strengthened,” Nhleko Said.

  • Zuma appeals ruling on corruption charges

    Zuma appeals ruling on corruption charges

    South African President, Jacob Zuma, is appealing against a court ruling that corruption charges against him should be reinstated, his office said.

    “The President believes that the decision of the court affects him directly and is of a strong view that the court erred in several respects in its decision,” Reuters quoted the Presidency as saying in a statement released late on Monday.

    The Pretoria High Court last month ordered a review of a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority to set aside hundreds of charges against Zuma, terming it “irrational.”

    Zuma’s office said the court made a mistake in saying the National Director of Public Prosecutions was not entitled to terminate a prosecution on the basis of misconduct and abuse of the process.

    “President Zuma believes that the appeal raises important issues of law and fact and also believes that the appeal has reasonable prospects of success,” the Presidency added.

    The National Prosecuting Authority said earlier on Monday it would also appeal the Pretoria court ruling, which could have lead to 783 corruption charges being reinstated against Zuma.

     

  • Corruption charges against Zuma to be reinstated

    South Africa’s High Court has ruled that a decision to drop 783 corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma should be reviewed.

    The charges were dropped just weeks before the 2009 election which led to Mr. Zuma becoming president, the BBC reports.

    Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said the decision by the chief state prosecutor at the time was “irrational.”

    The case, brought by the opposition Democratic Alliance, opens the way for prosecutors to reinstate the charges.

  • South Africa’s arms probe clears government of corruption

    South African President, Jacob Zuma, said on Thursday that an investigation into a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s had found no evidence of corruption or fraud.

    Critics denounced the findings as a cover up and said they would continue to campaign for justice, including a possible legal challenge in the United States under U.S. anti-graft laws.

    The 30 billion rand ($2 billion) deal to buy European military equipment has cast a shadow over politics in Africa’s most industrialised economy for years.

    Zuma – then deputy president – was linked to the deal through his former financial adviser, who was jailed for corruption. This almost torpedoed Zuma’s bid for president but all charges against him were dropped in 2009.

    “No evidence was found as well through the Commission’s own independent inquiries,” Reuters quoted Zuma as saying in a televised address on Thursday.

    Zuma said the three-volume report on the investigation, which heard evidence from senior politicians including Thabo Mbeki, the former president, and ex-cabinet ministers, would be made public.

    Former banker and anti-arms campaigner Terry Crawford-Browne, who sued the government, leading to the establishment of the commission of inquiry into the arms deal, said he would challenge the investigation’s findings.