Cape Town – The man who served as South Africa’s Finance Minister for all of four days, before being moved to the cooperative governance and traditional affairs portfolio, David van Rooyen, will hold his first media briefing in his new position on Tuesday.
Van Rooyen, an ANC backbencher, who served as a whip of the standing committee on finance before last week, was thrust into the national spotlight when President Jacob Zuma elevated him to head the country’s finances on Wednesday evening.
His stint as finance minister was short-lived as Zuma did an about-turn following a public outcry and pressure from financial and political circles. On Sunday Zuma replaced van Rooyen with Pravin Gordhan, swopping the two men between portfolios.
As is the case with his announcement as finance minister, Van Rooyen’s appointment as new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) was met with concern.
“Minister van Rooyen is no stranger to local government. He was head of the South African Local Government Association (Salga) in the North West and former executive mayor of the Merafong municipality, a history which is of great concern to us,” the South African Municipal Workers’ Union said on Monday.
“He was not able to effectively run one municipality and now has been tasked as the general overseer of all municipalities.”
African News Agency
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