War against SA Treasury is just getting started: report

·4 Sep 2016

The war against South Africa’s National Treasury is just getting started, with a strong desire from within the ruling ANC to strip much of decision making and financial control powers, City Press reports.

According to the paper, it has learned that the highest tiers of the ANC want to strip Treasury of its power to control procurement processes, and are seeking to change the reporting line of officials within the government arm.

It is understood that the ANC believes Treasury is too powerful, and has so much control that it can defy even the presidency when it comes to denying requests for money.

The first hint of this reportedly widely-held view came as mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane made a suggestion that the country’s Fica rules be re-evaluated. The Fica rules grant Treasury and the finance minister much of its power.

Proposed Fica changes – that would give more power to Treasury and banks to prevent money laundering – have been sitting without a presidential signature since May, the paper reported.

One of they key changes ANC high-up are apparently seeking is for Treasury’s chief procurement officer, Kenneth Brown, to report directly to the president, not the finance minister.

The ANC believes that Treasury is putting compliance above performance, and that the department is inhibiting the party’s plans for development and transformation in the country.

A high-ranking official that spoke to the City Press said that Treasury had been captured “long ago”.

“If you want to take charge of government in South Africa, the first point of entry is Treasury. It makes the rules,” they said.

You can read the full story in The City Press for 4 September 2016