Former governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Tito Mboweni on Tuesday weighed in on the constitutional amendment into the powers of the SARB as proposed by the public protector, saying they were too fundamental.
This comes after Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on Monday criticised the SARB for failing to recover R1.125 billion from Bankorp Limited/Absa Bank which was advanced as an "illegal gift" to the Bankorp group, which was bought by Absa in the early 1990s.
The Bankorp lifeboat matter dates back to 1998 when a British bounty hunter approached the democratic government alerting it to a R1.5 billion loan that the apartheid government had given to Bankorp, and also saying that Absa was liable to pay it back with interest over the years.
Mkhwebane ordered remedial action directing Parliament to effect a constitutional amendment to the powers of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), from targeting inflation to promoting economic growth.
Mboweni, who is currently in Europe on business, was instrumental in instituting an investigation into monies loaned to Bankorp by the apartheid government during his tenure as SARB governor for 10 years from 1999 to 2009. In a lengthy Facebook post on Tuesday, Mboweni said a high-level panel had investigated this matter and tabled its report.
"As soon as I assumed the office of Governor of the SA Reserve Bank, I instituted an independent investigation headed by a judge. It comprised of a panel of highly qualified people in economics, finance, accounting and political complexities, black and white with international expertise," Mboweni said.
"Their report was also submitted to the public protector. This report, it would seem, at reading the media reports, was ignored or might have been complex. I do not want to be judgemental." Mboweni said on the basis of that report, and its recommendations, the matter was concluded.
"Yes, I must admit, that a different panel might have come to a different conclusion as these matters normally are the case," Mboweni said.
"But to cast negative judgement on their genuine professional work is both ingenious and unfair. It might be impugning on their professional standing in their professions, society and capabilities."
Mboweni emphasised the importance of the independence of the Reserve Bank, saying it was unwise to try and change this at the slightest political provocation. Mboweni said he hoped Mkhwebane had consulted widely about her proposals in this regard because this was too fundamental a proposal to be treated simply as the impact of any proposed changes were huge for the country.
"My suggestion is that all political parties must carefully discuss the ramifications of the public protector's recommendation in this regard.
"I will respond to the public protector's report in due time. I don't think that the public protector's report was meant to fuel political issues in this year of schizophrenic political tensions. She was just doing her job within the available capabilities."