South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa launched a verbal attack on President Jacob Zuma on Friday, criticising a cabinet purge in which the respected finance minister was sacked.

"I have made my views known (to Zuma) and there are quite a number of other colleagues and comrades who are unhappy about this situation," Ramaphosa told reporters, saying the removal of finance minister Pravin Gordhan was "unacceptable".