South African deputy president denies resignation rumors

Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa Saturday denied reports that he had resigned as a show of objection to the recent cabinet reshuffle.

"There is no truth to the dissemination of this falsehood," Ramaphosa said in response to rumors that he has resigned in protest against the drastic cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma in the early hours of Friday.

Ramaphosa said earlier he was unhappy with Zuma's decision to reshuffle the cabinet and was particularly opposed to the removal of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan .

Before effecting his cabinet reshuffle, which affected 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, Zuma met African National Congress (ANC) leaders, but it was just a process of informing them of his decision, according to Ramaphosa.

"It was not a consultation, because he came with a ready-made list," Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa raised his objection about the removal of Gordhan, largely as he was being removed based on an intelligence report that he and his deputy were going to London to mobilize financial markets against South Africa.

This report had unsubstantiated allegations, Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa's spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa also confirmed Saturday that Ramaphosa "remains in his position" as deputy president and that of the ruling ANC.

"We reiterate his view that he will remain in government to serve the people in the realization of the national objective of pushing back the frontiers of poverty, unemployment and inequality," Mamoepa said.

source: Xinhua