The official opposition has slammed as unwise President Jacob Zuma’s claims that Des van Rooyen was more qualified than any minister he had ever appointed in the Finance Ministry.
Zuma said during a press conference in Pretoria that (the current Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs) Van Rooyen was a trained finance comrade.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) MP David Maynier says with the most important budget in more than 20 years approaching, it was extremely unwise for Zuma to try and defend the appointment.
The rand collapsed to record lows after Van Rooyen’s appointment and Zuma was guided by the African National Congress to recall Pravin Gordhan.
They want to take decisions on behalf of the president
Elaborating on the Van Rooyen issue, the President said: “That thing (Van Rooyens appointment) caused such havoc and people think Zuma just woke up and took decision, others say he was told by some people. Van Rooyen is my comrade, MK, trained economic comrade, more qualified than any minister on the finance issue, but I was mad to appoint him. Imagine if I got someone who looked after cattle in Inkandla …”
He went on to say, “I take decisions as president; people don’t know it is a constitutional right. They want to take decisions on behalf of the president, at times including some in the media, you might know why I took the decision but sometimes people speculate.”
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