“Let’s wait and see,” South Africa’s Gordhan says on sacking reports

The beleaguered South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says “let’s wait and see” after learning of reports that President Jacob Zuma was set to remove him.

The minister well regarded around the world arrived back from an investor roadshow in Britain on Zuma’s orders.

Gordhan told reporters shortly after landing at Johannesburg’s international airport that he was focused on restoring faith in Africa’s most industrialised economy and had met with about 50 investors while in London.

A television report in South Africa said the top six of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party have approved the removal of the Finance Minister.

The report by ANN7 television on Tuesday, cited sources although ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe, one of the ANC’s top six, told Reuters he could not comment on the report.

ANN7 also reported that Brian Molefe, ex-head of state utility Eskom, and former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene, were not in the running to replace Gordhan.