Brian Molefe is set to become a member of parliament for the ANC, prompting speculation that President Jacob Zuma intends installing the former Eskom CEO as the new minister of finance, replacing Pravin Gordhan.
Parliament said late on Friday that Molefe will fill a vacancy on the North West list of ANC MPs. “Presiding officers in parliament will determine a date for swearing him in as a member of parliament,” it said.
Zuma is said to be keen to replace Gordhan, with whom he has been fighting over the management of state-owned companies, including South African Airways, and a planned nuclear procurement programme.
Molefe, who supported the nuclear plan when he was CEO of Eskom, quit the utility after he was accused by the public protector of favouring the Gupta family in coal-supply contracts. He also allegedly helped the Guptas to buy Optimum Coal, which supplied Eskom.
Democratic Alliance chief whip John Steenhuisen, meanwhile, said Molefe should not be made an MP.
“He is an ethically compromised ‘Zupta’ buddy with corruption clouds hanging over his head,” Steenhuisen said in a statement.
“This nomination only confirms, for the umpteenth time, that the ANC does not care about fighting corruption. In fact, it seems you are more likely to rise in the ANC ranks if you are accused of corruption.”
He said Molefe’s appointment as an MP “lends credence” to the idea that he has “his eyes on the finance portfolio, and that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent, just days before Gordhan is due to present the budget”.
“As an incoming MP, Molefe must swear loyalty to the constitution and commit to put the people of South Africa first, not Zuma, the Guptas, or his own pockets,” Steenhuisen said.
“If Molefe had any inclination to put the people of South Africa above his own self-interest, he would have declined. If the ANC were serious about fighting corruption they would never have nominated Molefe.” — (c) 2017 NewsCentral Media
