Watch: First address from South Africa’s new finance minister

 ·11 Dec 2015

David van Rooyen was on Thursday afternoon sworn in as South Africa’s new minister of finance.

The minister’s brief swearing-in ceremony follows the announcement made by President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday night.

In his announcement President Zuma announced that minister van Rooyen would replace Nhlanhla Nene as minister.

President Zuma said Nene has been removed ahead of his deployment to another strategic position. The President said that Nene had done well since his appointment on 25 May 2014.

Minister van Rooyen took his oath at the ceremony, attended by President Zuma, at the Union Buildings. Justice of the Constitutional Court, Judge Sisi Khampepe, presided over the ceremony.

Minister van Rooyen is a former Merafong Municipality Mayor and current Member of Parliament where he serves as Whip of the Standing Committee on Finance and as Whip of the Economic Transformation Cluster.

In a brief address, the Minister said he would engage with National Treasury adding that it is important to simplify issues of public finance to the public.

“Our duty is to simplify issues of public finance,” said Minister van Rooyen, adding that he aims to deal with myths around the ministry.

He said he takes office at a time when emerging markets are facing difficult times.

More on finance in SA

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Here is what South Africans can expect under a new finance minister

Why Zuma sacked Nene according to the EFF and DA

Zuma removes Nene as finance minister

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