Axed Indian-origin South African minister Pravin Gordhan rubbishes intelligence report used by President Jacob Zuma to sack him

Axed Indian-origin South African minister Pravin Gordhan dismissed on Saturday as "absolute nonsense" an intelligence report which President Jacob Zuma used to sack him. 

Clearly showing his disgust with the report, Gordhan, 67, waved it in the air, saying it was being widely circulated. "This is the so-called intelligence report which said that among others the two of us and the director-general are involved in this massive conspiracy to undermine the economy of this country, and if you read this you will know it is absolute nonsense," he told reporters outside the Treasury offices in Pretoria. 

Gordhan and deputy finance minister Mcibisi Jonas, who was also fired, bid goodbye to hundreds of cheering staff before handing over to Malusi Gigaba, who has been appointed by Zuma in his place. 

"We, from a very young age, have been activists in the struggle. Why we would want to undermine the country now, I do not think anybody can reasonably and logically explain. "So let me say categorically and emphatically, that there were no such meetings. If anybody wants us not to do this job, tell us not to do this job. Nothing has to be manufactured in order to create an environment where your integrity has to be undermined and we need to be discredited in order to justify some objective outside of the real intent," he said. 

Gordhan explained why he had accepted the job again after an uproar when Zuma summarily dismissed his successor Nhlanhla Nene and appointed relatively unknown David van Rooyen in his place in December 2015. 

Van Rooyen held the position for only four days after Zuma was forced to act as the economy plummeted within hours. "I did not apply for this job (finance minister). I was asked as part of national service to take up this job. And for the first time, I also want to say to you what I said when I was asked to take this job? I said... why me?... and (Zuma) said no? you are the man they say can calm the markets," Gordhan said. 

"I will be guided by my conscience if that actually happens and hopefully do the right thing, whatever that might be," he said, when asked whether he would support a motion of no confidence against Zuma in Parliament. 

Pressure is mounting on Zuma after he dismissed five ministers and made 10 changes to his cabinet today to surround himself with what analysts say "non-dissenting people". The dramatic reshuffle could split the ruling African National Congress party which led the fight against apartheid and came to power under Nelson Mandela in 1994.