Having failed to persuade the President  that he should keep his job, Gigaba quit on the eve of Cyril  Ramaphosa’s trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and South Africa- European Union summit in Brussels.

Just last week, Malusi Gigaba vowed he would not step down.

He did not give reasons for his resignation in his letter yesterday (Tuesday) to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

It follows a report by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane that Gigaba violated the executive ethics code by lying under oath about dealings with the Anglo American Corporation and circulation of an embarrassing sex tape he said he made for his wife.

Gigaba was also heavily criticized for granting citizenship to members of the wealthy Indian family the Guptas accused of corrupt dealings with former President Jacob Zuma.

Opposition politicians said Gigaba had done the honorable thing by falling on his sword.

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane  said Gigaba had done profound damage to state owned enterprises and to South Africa’s tourism industry.

He had done enormous harm to the economy and demonstrated that he could not be trusted.

Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has been asked to step in as Home Affairs Minister until a permanent appointment is made.

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Politicians are saying Ramaphosa has no option but to sack Nene who lied to MPs about the extent of his contacts with the wealthy Indian Gupta family accused off profiting from an inappropriate close relationship with former President Jacob Zuma.

Nhlanhla Nene told the commission of inquiry into state capture that was sacked as Finance Minister by then President  Jacob Zuma for failing to approve policies that would benefit the Gupta family.

In giving this testimony, he said he had visited the Gupta home in Johannesburg a number of times.

This contradicted an earlier assurance he had given MPs that he had barely known the Guptas.

In the storm that erupted from this, Nene, who was reinstated by President Cyril Ramaphosa last February, apologised to the people of South Africa. 

And yesterday (Monday) he asked Ramaphosa to relieve him of his duties.

His departure would be financially awkward. Credit ratings agency Moodys is due to  report on South Africa later this week and Nene is due to deliver his mini Budget to Parliament on October 24.

Opposition parties say Ramaphosa’s commitment to build a clean South Afrian society is at stake.

They say Nene must go , for lying to MPs, even if he refused to do the Guptas’  bidding.

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This time it’s law firm Hogan Lovells accused of helping hide state corruption and complicity in attempts to  loot and rob the taxpayer.

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South African-born Lord Hain says Hogan Lovells, hired to probe corruption in SARS, actually  engaged in a fatally flawed whitewash of graft in South Africa.

Former  finance minister Pravin Gordhan says Hogan Lovell back pedaled on its Investigation into former SARS executive and alleged money launderer Jonas Makwakwa.

Hain’s asking the British regulator to discipline Hogan Lovell who deny any wrongdoing.

Hain says the British firm helped the Guptas gain influence in SARS.

He maintains  Hogan Lovell’s is either a willing gullible or a malevolent accomplice.

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South African-born Hain says the banks may inadvertently have been conduits for laundered money.

Lord Hain tells the House of Lords that up to £400m of illicit funds may have been moved by HSBC and Standard Chartered.

He says he’s  concerned about links between President Jacob Zuma and the Guptas.

The peer has written to the Chancellor Philip Hammond, telling him a whistle-blower has indicated the banks may inadvertently have been conduits for the corrupt proceeds of money.

His letter names 27 people and companies.

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The country’s prosecution service denies media reports that it’s about to charge Gordhan with corruption.

Before heading abroad for a fortnight, Zuma issued a statement saying he’s not empowered to stop investigations against the finance minister.

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Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was in defiant mood when he addressed his staff on Friday.

Sources in the meeting behind closed doors said Gordhan warned them not to be surprised if he was sacked.

He said he’d spent years risking his life fighting apartheid and he was once again prepared to die to block thieves trying to access public funds.

He vowed not to stop investigating illegal state contracts.

Many of these have involved companies belonging to the Gupta family, who used their improperly  close relationship with Zuma to influence government appointments and policies.

The Guptas gave notice at the weekend that they’re selling up their business interests in South Africa and quitting the country by the end of the year.

Growing numbers senior ANC members and their ruling alliance partners the SA Communist Party warn that persecuting Gordhan risks driving the currency down to unprecedented levels and watching South Africa be downgraded to junk status by international  credit ratings agencies.

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