The ANC wants the presidency to be the “strategic center of power”, where the policies and the allocation of financial resources should be managed.
The radical proposal was made by the ANC’s policy chief and minister in the presidency (and seemingly a willing candidate for the ANC’s leadership), Jeff Radebe.
Currently, there is a great struggle for control of the treasury, and it is well known that the current finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, is holding onto his position on borrowed time. Zuma has openly said that the treasury is in his way of pursuing radical economic transformation, and that is why he wants to take control over it.
Radebe’s proposal is apparently not the idea of an individual because he stated during a press conference to introduce the policy discussion documents. It is on the official agenda of the ANC.
He said that “budgetary reforms” since 2016 have been discussed, and hence the suggestion that the president should be allowed to determine the objectives and priorities of the budget.
According to political observers, if this proposal is implemented, Zuma will virtually have dictatorial powers and will make a “democratic dictatorship” of South Africa.
Read the original article in Afrikaans on Die Vryburger
South Africa Today – South Africa News
