South African Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, said “let’s wait and see” when asked about reports that President Jacob Zuma was set to remove him, as he arrived back from an investor roadshow in Britain on Zuma’s orders.
Gordhan told reporters shortly after landing at Johannesburg’s international airport that he was focused on restoring faith in Africa’s most industrialized economy and had met with about 50 investors while in London.
On Monday, Zuma recalled Gordhan from the roadshow, fuelling lingering speculation of a cabinet reshuffle.
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.(Reuters/NAN)