David van Rooyen has been sworn in as the new minister of finance.
The swearing in ceremony which lasted all of three minutes was conducted by Constitutional Court Judge Sisi Khampepe.
President Jacob Zuma announced the appointment and called upon Khampepe to swear him in.
Wearing a black suit and white shirt, Van Rooyen approached the table for the proceedings.
Van Rooyen replaces Nhlanhla Nene who was sacked on Wednesday evening by Zuma. Van Rooyen’s family was present at the Union Buildings when he took his oath of office in front of glaring cameras.
The room was packed with reporters hoping Zuma would clarify the reasons for sacking Nene.
That however did not happen as the president walked out immediately after the ceremony.
Zuma sacked Nene on Wednesday. The move was condemned by many with some questioning the logic behind it.
“I have decided to remove Mr Nhlanhla Nene as minister of finance, ahead of his deployment to another strategic position,” Zuma said in a statement.
Zuma said that Nene had done well since his appointment as Minister of Finance during a difficult economic climate.
Van Rooyen served as the Whip of the Standing Committee on Finance and as Whip of the Economic Transformation Cluster.
He was also a former executive mayor of Merafong Municipality and a former North West provincial chairperson of the South African Local Government Association.
Edited by: News24Wire
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
