Gigaba faces ghosts of SOE past

important for Gigaba, Tshwete said, and would be a primary focus for the finance minister, particularly to ensure that they become “viable, self-sustaining entities” that undertake developmental agendas.

Tshwete said it had been three years since Gigaba had looked at the operational and financial position of SAA, but once he had received a brief from his new department, he would decide on what was best for the airline and the country.

Gigaba has repeatedly committed himself to sticking to the budget policies already outlined by the treasury, including operating within the current spending ceilings.

He has also said he would not be withdrawing from any of the matters between the treasury and Gupta-linked business interests that are before the courts. He would also not make changes to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act Amendment Bill, Tshwete said.

The passage of the Bill, which requires financial institutions to exercise greater scrutiny of politically influential people, has been fraught. Although the Bill has been passed by Parliament, it is still waiting for the president to sign it into law.

Gigaba, in championing Zuma’s promised radical economic transformation, outlined in the State of the Nation address, said the state’s R500-billion procurement budget would be used to include and grow more black businesses.

But the treasury’s dogged oversight of state contracts, particularly through the office of the chief procurement officer, has been seen as a stumbling block to those who would use state