Van Rooyen was very qualified for finance job - Zuma
Pretoria - Des van Rooyen was the most qualified person to be appointed to the position of finance minister, President Jacob Zuma said on Monday.
"That thing caused such havoc and people think Zuma just woke up one day and took a decision," Zuma told political reporters and editors at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
"You know Des Rooyen is my comrade, MK for that matter, he's a trained finance and economic comrade and more qualified than any minister I have ever appointed in the finance issue."
Zuma was speaking to the group at the launch of the Presidential Press Corp (PPC).
In December, Zuma faced a backlash after he announced that he was replacing Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene with Van Rooyen, who was an ANC MP.