By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene as the new chairperson of the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC), which has been mired in governance dysfunction and internal conflict for years.
Nene will serve a five-year term, alongside Malijeng Ngqaleni, who has been appointed deputy chairperson.
Ramaphosa has also appointed Bulelwa Dygrecia Nqadolo, Advocate Neo Khethang Tsholanku, Andrew Donaldson and Astrid Ludin as members of the commission.
The appointments were made in terms of section 221 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 and section 8 of the Financial and Fiscal Commission Act of 1997.
The FFC is responsible for advising Parliament, provincial legislatures and local government on financial and fiscal matters.
Nene is a former Finance Minister and has served as a Member of Parliament, as Finance Deputy Minister and as a member of the Local Organising Committee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Presidency said the appointees’ “expertise, experience and institutional memory will add enormous value to the Commission.”
“The Commission’s primary objective is to make recommendations to Parliament, the provincial legislatures, local government and other organs of state on financial and fiscal matters as envisaged in the Constitution and other national legislation, “the Presidency said.
The President congratulated the new appointees and wished them well in their new responsibilities.
The new appointments are for five-year terms beginning from the date each appointee assumes office. Nene will serve as the Commission’s full-time Chairperson, while Ngqaleni and the other appointed members will perform their duties on a part-time basis.
Ramaphosa also thanked outgoing Chairperson Dr Patience Nombeko Mbava for the dedication and expertise she brought to the Commission during her term, marking the leadership transition as the new group prepares to guide the institution through its next five-year cycle.