Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan confirmed that he and his team will return to South Africa following a “directive from the President of the Republic of South Africa”.
Gordhan’s statement avoided confirming whether Zuma provided a reason for the sudden return.
“Following a directive from the President of the Republic of South Africa, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and National Treasury Director General Lungisa Fuzile are preparing to return tonight from the UK and are expected to arrive in South Africa tomorrow morning,” National Treasury said.
“Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas who was scheduled to undertake the United States leg of the trip will no longer be leaving tonight as planned in line with the President’s directive.”
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor affirmed to the Mail & Guardian that president Zuma appointed her as acting finance minister for the duration of Pravin Gordhan’s visit to the United Kingdom and United States.
Gordhan is expected to cut short his international roadshow after Zuma instructed him to return to South Africa “immediately”.
In a terse statement, Zuma’s office confirmed this morning that “President Jacob Zuma has instructed the minister of finance, Pravin Gordhan and Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas to cancel the international investment promotion roadshow to the United Kingdom and the United States and return to South Africa immediately.”
Zuma provided no reason for the sudden instruction, fuelling speculation of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle.
Pandor has previously acted as finance minister.
She is unaware of any crisis necessitating Gordhan’s urgent return.
Her appointment as acting finance minister is an indication that all protocol was observed — that Zuma authorised Gordhan’s trip while appointing an acting finance minister — but chose to rescind authorisation days later.
It is unclear what happened after Zuma signed off on the trip that would justify a public recall of his finance minister.
Treasury spokesperson Yolisa Tyantsi was unaware of the instruction, adding that Gordhan would “never embark on an overseas trip without the president’s authorisation”.
Presidency spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga did not immediately respond to messages and telephone calls.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the topic of Gordhan being recalled did not come up at the party’s weekend national executive committee meeting. “Calling the minister back was not an issue for the NEC,” he said. “There can be nothing in the NEC that can be linked to calling the minister back. That is a government matter. Is it because there was no permission? We are not aware.”
The rand has dipped against a weak dollar and euro since news of the cancelled trip broke this morning.