Announcement of new Ministers of Finance

and COGTA
13 December 2015

On the 9th of December 2015, I announced the appointment of a new Minister of Finance, Mr
David van Rooyen.
I have received many representations to reconsider my decision.
As a democratic government, we emphasise the importance of listening to the people and to
respond to their views.
In this regard, I have, after serious consideration and reflection, taken the following decision;
FINANCE
I have appointed Mr Pravin Gordhan, the current Minister of Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs as the new Minister of Finance.
Minister Gordhan will return to a portfolio that he had held proficiently during the fourth
administration.
He will lead government again in the following;
Ensuring an even stronger alignment between the Budget and the Medium Term Strategic
Framework (MTSF) in the interest of stimulating more inclusive growth and accelerated job
creation while continuing the work of ensuring that our debt is stabilised over the medium
term.
Promoting and strengthening the fiscal discipline and prudence that has characterised our
management of public finances since the dawn of freedom.
Working with the financial sector so that its stability is preserved under the broad umbrella
of the Twin Peaks reform.
Ensuring that the National Treasury is more acceptable to all sections of our society.
Adherence to the set expenditure ceiling while maintaining a stable trajectory of our debt
portfolio, as set out in the February 2015 Budget.
COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS
I have also decided to appoint the current Minister of Finance, Mr David van Rooyen, as the
new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

Mr Van Rooyen, a former Executive Mayor, will also be bringing to COGTA the finance and
economic sector background gained in serving in the Finance Portfolio Committee and
Economic Transformation Cluster as whip in National Assembly. He has been mandated to
take forward the Back to Basics programme and further improve cooperation between the
three spheres of government.
I wish both Ministers all the best in their new deployments.

Enquiries: Bongani Majola

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

082 339 1993 or bonganim@presidency.gov.za