Linda Ensor
6 November 2008
Cape Town — Parliament's former finance committee chairman, Nhlanhla Nene, has been appointed deputy finance minister.
Some regard Nene - who is known for his prudent approach to fiscal and macroeconomic policy - as a possible replacement for Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, although this is likely to depend on his performance as a deputy.
Nene is understood to get on well with Manuel, who said he was "delighted" by the appointment. Manuel noted Nene had performed his tasks as finance committee chairman with diligence and integrity, and had done a "sterling" job in steering through important legislation.
Manuel's spokeswoman, Thoraya Pandy, said Nene would undergo an intensive induction into the work of the treasury, and his areas of responsibility would be worked out later.
Other deputy ministers sworn into office yesterday by President Kgalema Motlanthe were Andre Gaum as deputy education minister and Fatima Hajaig as deputy foreign affairs minister.
Gaum, a former senior member of the New National Party, served previously as education MEC in Western Cape.
Hajaig has been an active and valuable member of Parliament's foreign affairs portfolio committee.
The appointment of the well-liked and widely respected Nene, who is from KwaZuluNatal and understood to have sympathies with African National Congress president Jacob Zuma, was welcomed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
Cosatu said Nene as finance committee chairman had "proved himself to be positive and open-minded, willing to debate issues". The labour federation said it looked forward to working closely with him in implementing economic policies "adopted in the resolutions of the ANC Polokwane conference and the alliance summit meetings".
DA finance spokesman Kobus Marais said Nene had always been open to constructive input from the DA. However, one possible weakness in his new position might be his tendency to avoid confrontation, especially in the context of fierce battles over fiscal and macroeconomic policy.
"When you are in the hot seat you cannot please everyone. He will have to stick to important principles and policies, and not try to be popular," Marais said.
DA deputy finance spokesman Dion George said Nene would make a good deputy finance minister. "He has always been fair and ensures that everyone has their say. We experienced him as a very thoughtful chairman and someone who has tried to achieve as much consensus as possible."
If Nene takes over some of the work of his predecessor, Jabu Moleketi, who resigned after the recall of former president Thabo Mbeki, then he might become involved in the oversight of the almost R20bn assigned for the 2010 World Soccer Cup.
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