Africa

South Africa's president replaces finance minister

Associated Press
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Pravin Gordhan, South Africa's finance minister, left, greets former President Nelson Mandela's wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, during the funeral service for Ahmed Kathrada, at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, who spent 26 years in jail - many of them alongside Nelson Mandela - for working to end South Africa's previous white minority rule, died in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. He was 87 years old. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (The Associated Press)

Pravin Gordhan, South Africa's finance minister, left, greets former President Nelson Mandela's wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, during the funeral service for Ahmed Kathrada, at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, who spent 26 years in jail - many of them alongside Nelson Mandela - for working to end South Africa's previous white minority rule, died in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. He was 87 years old. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) (The Associated Press)

FILE -- In this Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017 file photo South Africa's finance minister Pravin Gordhan, center, arrives at the South African Parliament to deliver the annual Budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa. President Jacob Zuma's replacement of Gordhan, announced early Friday, March 31, 2017 comes as part of a cabinet shuffle that changes 10 of the country's 35 ministers. Tension had been growing between Zuma and Gordhan, who had a reputation as being resistant to corruption. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File) (The Associated Press)

South Africa's president has replaced his finance minister in an expected move that had spooked investors this week and sent the currency tumbling.

President Jacob Zuma's replacement of Pravin Gordhan, announced early Friday, comes as part of a cabinet shuffle that changes 10 of the country's 35 ministers.

Pressure has been growing on Zuma to step down after he recalled Gordhan, who has a strong reputation as a bulwark against corruption, from a trade trip in London earlier this week.

Frustration has been growing with Zuma after numerous allegations of corruption. South Africa's two main opposition parties took aim at the president on Thursday, with one appealing to the highest court to order impeachment proceedings and the other announcing it will launch a vote of no confidence.