President Zuma made 20 changes to the national executive late Thursday (30 March 2017) evening. The changes that created the most uproar by far are to the Finance Ministry that sees both the Minister, Pravin Gordhan and Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas relieved of their duties. In a surprise move the President appointed Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba as the new Finance Minister and Sfiso Buthelezi as his deputy.
On Friday The Western Cape High Court dismissed the DA's application to halt the swearing in of the new Ministers. Prior to their bid, the DA wrote to the Speaker Baleka Mbete to ask for the immediate resumption of Parliament to vote on the no confidence motion against the president next week. According to DA chief whip John Steenhuisen, "the motion cannot wait till Parliament reconvenes in May".
The EFF however maintains that the reshuffle is merely a smokescreen "to place Treasury in the hands of an individual whose only qualification is his loyalty to the Gupta family". The EFF approached the Constitutional Court to seek a directive that would order the Speaker to institute impeachment or disciplinary proceedings against President Zuma for conduct associated with the Nkandla scandal.
See infographic below for more on the changes to the national executive:
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