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Finance Minister Tito Mboweni at the press conference before delivering his 2019 budget speech (Gallo Images, Brenton Geach)
- Minister Tito Mboweni said the legislation allowed ministers to fill vacancies without advertising.
- Mboweni appointed former political journalist Ranjeni Munusamy as a community engagement officer.
- Munusamy has denied the allegations of using money from a criminal intelligence fund to pay for the financing of his car.
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni stood firm in his decision to appoint former political journalist Ranjeni Munusamy as a community outreach officer in the National Treasury despite serious accusations made against her at the State Capture Investigation Commission .
Mboweni was answering questions from Members of Parliament during a hybrid plenary on Wednesday afternoon. Mboweni appointed Munusamy to the post without publicity and maintained that it was his prerogative to do so.
Last year, an investigator for the Hawks, Kobus Roelofse, testified before the Zondo Commission that Munusamy received R148,000 in 2008 from a criminal intelligence fund to pay for financing his car. Munusamy has denied these claims.
Economic freedom fighters MP Floyd Shivambu asked why Mboweni was hiring Munusamy in his office despite the accusations against him. He also asked if the position he held was advertised and what the responsibilities of the position were.
“The person was appointed because he possessed the necessary skills to fill the position. He is highly qualified, has extensive political knowledge and therefore can provide sufficient support to the finance minister,” Mboweni said.
Mboweni said that Section 9 of the Public Service Act of 1994, read with Regulation 66 of the public service regulations of 2016, allowed ministers to fill vacancies without advertising. He said that the responsibilities of a community outreach officer include managing stakeholder engagement.
‘Urban legend’
The deputy of the economic freedom fighters, Ntombovuyo Mente, asked Mboweni if Munusamy, an experienced political journalist, was a ghost writing the minister’s biographical book. Mboweni said this was not true, criticizing the claims as an “urban legend” of the EFF.
“Ranjeni Munusamy is not writing a book for me. It is an urban legend created by EFF. I know you. You create stories. My book is written by a different ghostwriter and in any case it will be published when I am over 70 years or I’m dead, “Mboweni said.
Mboweni said he spoke to Munusamy about her appointment about the allegations against her in the Zondo Commission and said he was sure she was innocent based on the information he gave him.
“I know she has been on the commission. I am satisfied with the facts before me that until I see compelling evidence, she can work in the office. She is very competent and can do her job very well. Yes, she is. finds her guilty of a crime, she will be out of my office, but that is not the case, “he said.
Democratic Alliance MP Geordin Hill-Lewis challenged Mboweni, saying: “You are the custodian of the Treasury. You should have delayed this appointment until Munusamy cleared your name and should consider reversing it. How did you not know that more was paid of 100,000 your account? “
“I must make it very clear that having discussed this matter with her and being satisfied with her explanation, I have no reason not to believe that the matters will be clarified before the commission, based on the information I have now. I want to interfere with the commission. “Mboweni replied.
In response to another follow-up question from MP Dipuo Peters of the African National Congress, Mboweni said that corruption was a serious global problem and that South Africa needed to do everything possible to combat it even when it “manifests itself in what might seem like small ways.”
