ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe has rubbished claims that President Jacob Zuma grilled the party's top leadership during the national working committee (NWC) meeting on Tuesday over his cabinet reshuffle.
The resignations may boost Zuma's chances of surviving the no-confidence motion called by the two main opposition parties.
It is more important than ever now that South Africans unite as a country and work together in light of the unrelenting socioeconomic challenges that they face, Zuma said at the launch of the Trans-Africa Locomotive project in Koedoespoort, Gauteng Province.
Previous no-confidence motions in parliament against Zuma have failed as the ANC has a commanding majority there. "We wish him well", said Mhlauli.
ANC spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli says they have been inundated with mischievous calls, text messages and emails by faceless individuals and organisations lobbying them to disregard the party line and vote in accordance with their individual taste.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa chimed in, calling the sacking of Gordhan "totally unacceptable".
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The dismissal of Gordhan, seen for some time by pundits as the target of political pressure from a faction allied to Zuma, threatens to split the upper echelons of the ruling ANC.
Largest trade union demands president's resignation amid criticism of his removal of finance minister and handling of economy.
South Africa's rand tumbled on Monday afternoon after credit rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's the credit grade to junk status, saying a cabinet reshuffle by President Jacob Zuma last week had put fiscal and growth outcomes at risk. This was a "serious weakness and we shall attend to it within renewed vigour", he said.
Earlier today‚ Zuma‚ speaking in Pretoria at the launch of Africa's first locally built locomotive at Transnet's engineering yard‚ said the reshuffle and appointment of Malusi Gigaba as finance minister had "gone off smoothly".
ANC members used the funeral service of ANC struggle stalwart Ahmed Kathrada last Wednesday to voice their dissatisfaction over the president's leadership.
Mr Gordhan had campaigned for budget discipline and against corruption, but Zuma's allies accused him of thwarting the president's desire to enact radical policies to tackle racial inequality. Senior ANC member Kgalema Motlanthe took the opportunity during the funeral to read out Kathrada's letter asking Zuma to step down.
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