Nhlanhla Nene asks to be let go as finance minister - report

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Cape Town - Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene has reportedly asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to be let go as the minister of finance. This comes after mounting pressure from a number of political parties over his testimony at the commission of inquiry into state capture, according to a report by Business Day.

Finance Minister, Nhanhla Nene has reportedly asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire him. pic.twitter.com/rhYuwKncBr — Katlego Maseng (@KatlegoMaseng1) October 8, 2018

Nene admitted last week that he attended a number of meetings with the controversial Gupta family at their Saxonworld home and businesses in Midrand.

The minister then issued an apology to the South African people for his failure to disclose the information.

Mounting pressure

Nene has been under enormous pressure to resign.

Factions within the ANC have been discussing potential replacements that they could suggest to President Cyril Ramaphosa, three senior party officials said, asking not to be identified because the information has not been made public.

Former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas is considered a front-runner, along with South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago and one of his deputies, Daniel Mminele, the party officials said. Barbara Creecy, head of the finance portfolio in the Gauteng province, has been also been touted as a candidate, according to the officials.

Sought Forgiveness

Nene, who was fired as finance minister by Zuma in December 2015, was reappointed to the position by Ramaphosa in February and has been tasked with turning around an economy that fell into recession in the second quarter.

He told the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture last week about the meetings with the Guptas after previously having said he had only met the three brothers on social occasions, prompting opposition parties to call for him to step down.

He also told the commission that he was fired by Zuma because he refused to sign a multi-billion nuclear power pact with Russia that would have crippled South Africa’s finances.

“These visits do cast a shadow on my conduct as a public office bearer,” Nene said in a statement on Friday of the visits to the Guptas residence in earlier stints as deputy finance minister and finance minister. “I deeply regret these lapses and beg your forgiveness,” he said in the statement that was addressed to South Africans.

Do you think that President Cyril Ramaphosa should replace South Africa's Finance minister Nhlanhla Nene? #FinanceMinister #NhlanhlaNene #CyrilRamaphosa — Business Report (@busrep) October 8, 2018

He earlier told the commission that he should have instead met the Guptas at his office in the presence of government finance officials.

The ANC’s top six most senior officials, including Ramaphosa, were in meetings all weekend, discussing governance and party plans and have not taken a decision on the matter, according to one of the officials. The Sunday Times today reported that Ramaphosa was unaware of Nene’s previous meetings with the Guptas.

BUSINESS REPORT ONLINE/BLOOMBERG