Gordhan 'not aware' of any decisions Van Rooyen made

Pretoria - Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is not aware of any decisions his predecessor David van Rooyen made during his four days in office.

He was responding to questions on Monday about whether Van Rooyen had signed off on the nuclear programme and the South African Airways Airbus deal.

He said he hoped to speak to SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni later on Monday.

“We will start dealing with the board of SAA during the new year. We are not going to make reckless decisions. We are going to ensure that we have the kind of discipline that the government of 1994 had,” he told reporters in Pretoria.

Gordhan said he was not be in a hurry to give into pressure and overturn former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene’s decision on the SAA Airbus deal.

“Obviously the decisions of the former minister still stand, unless it is necessary to change it. If there is a new case, it will be heard. SAA is a flagship of the country. Our job is to stabilise the financial situation and then it must go back to its home. Treasury doesn’t manage airlines."

Asked about the nuclear build programme, he said the government would not spend money it did not have and that good governance was non-negotiable.

“It is time individuals stop playing with government institutions as if it’s a personal toy.”

This article first appeared via News24 – see here.