Minister Retracts Comments Over ‘Big Business Plot’ to Overthrow Zuma
BY ANDISWA MAQUTU
Business Day Live
18 DECEMBER 2015, 13:40
SMALL Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu has reportedly done an about-turn on statements she made this week accusing business leaders of manipulating global markets in an attempted coup to bring down President Jacob Zuma.
The Mail and Guardian reported on Friday that in an interview with Ms Zulu this week, she said that business had "written off" Mr Zuma a long time ago. But unfortunately they had written off a man who "is the future" she said.
The publication reports that Ms Zulu’s views are widely held within the ruling party, the African National Congress.
However, on Friday Ms Zulu retracted her statements, saying she had been quoted out of context in a report by Eye Witness News. Instead, she said there was no plot to bring down the president, but that business did not communicate well with the State and the ruling party.
Ms Zulu’s comments come after thousands marched across Mandela Bridge in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, calling for the removal of Mr Zuma as president and for stronger societal activism against corruption within the government.
This followed Mr Zuma’s much criticised decision to remove respected finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and replace him with unknown Des van Rooyen.
Mr Zuma later returned Pravin Gordhan to head the Treasury.
In Cape Town thousands of marchers gathered outside Parliament on Wednesday and marched to the nearby Cape Town Gardens.
Ms Zulu said business did not have to support Mr Zuma’s decision. She said he had reappointed Mr Gordhan because he had listened to business leaders.
This is not the first time Ms Zulu has made controversial statements. Earlier this year, during a wave of xenophobic attacks that swept the country, she said foreign business owners in SA’s townships could not expect to co-exist peacefully with local business owners unless they shared their trade secrets.
Ms Zulu said she had been an adviser to Mr Zuma when he first came into office, and said he had always struggled to communicate with big business in the country.
Business Day Live
18 DECEMBER 2015, 13:40
SMALL Business Minister Lindiwe Zulu has reportedly done an about-turn on statements she made this week accusing business leaders of manipulating global markets in an attempted coup to bring down President Jacob Zuma.
The Mail and Guardian reported on Friday that in an interview with Ms Zulu this week, she said that business had "written off" Mr Zuma a long time ago. But unfortunately they had written off a man who "is the future" she said.
The publication reports that Ms Zulu’s views are widely held within the ruling party, the African National Congress.
However, on Friday Ms Zulu retracted her statements, saying she had been quoted out of context in a report by Eye Witness News. Instead, she said there was no plot to bring down the president, but that business did not communicate well with the State and the ruling party.
Ms Zulu’s comments come after thousands marched across Mandela Bridge in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Wednesday, calling for the removal of Mr Zuma as president and for stronger societal activism against corruption within the government.
This followed Mr Zuma’s much criticised decision to remove respected finance minister Nhlanhla Nene and replace him with unknown Des van Rooyen.
Mr Zuma later returned Pravin Gordhan to head the Treasury.
In Cape Town thousands of marchers gathered outside Parliament on Wednesday and marched to the nearby Cape Town Gardens.
Ms Zulu said business did not have to support Mr Zuma’s decision. She said he had reappointed Mr Gordhan because he had listened to business leaders.
This is not the first time Ms Zulu has made controversial statements. Earlier this year, during a wave of xenophobic attacks that swept the country, she said foreign business owners in SA’s townships could not expect to co-exist peacefully with local business owners unless they shared their trade secrets.
Ms Zulu said she had been an adviser to Mr Zuma when he first came into office, and said he had always struggled to communicate with big business in the country.
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