The prudent Gordhan is regarded as an obstacle to Zuma’s plans for the national treasury and the ambitions of the president’s friends, the Gupta family. Jonas came into the spotlight when he revealed that he rejected a $44 million bribe from the Gupta family who allegedly wanted him to do their bidding in the treasury.

Unlike during his previous shuffle of finance ministers, Zuma may have had a good political reason to let go of Gordhan, the relationship between the two becoming untenable following months of political infighting.

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