Finance minister says up to Zuma whether he remains in office

Gordhan, who was responding to a question at an event in Cape Town on his tenure as finance minister, said that cabinet appointments were at the behest of Zuma.

"If required to deliver the budget in February I will be willing to do that," he said referring the country's annual budget speech delivered by the finance minister.

Police are investigating Gordhan over the activities of a surveillance unit set up years ago when he headed the tax service, a probe that has rocked markets and raised concerns over a possible sovereign credit downgrade this year.