Out: Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene was replaced by ‘Gupta-friendly’ Des van Rooyen.
Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene was named interim director of the Wits Business School (WBS) late Friday. According to a statement released to the press, he will hold the position until a long-term executive is selected next year and then go on to serve as an Honorary Professor and a Scholar in Residence.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor Adam Habib, affirmed, “We are honoured to welcome Mr Nene to lead the WBS — his political credence, business acumen and remarkable intellect places him in good stead to lead the WBS as the search for a permanent head commences … his leadership, advice and insight at this pivotal time in our country’s economic trajectory, will add value to the quality of courses, public lectures, debates and research that we offer.”
The appointment comes more than a year after Nene was dismissed from office during President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle back in December 2015.
Reflecting on his pivot to academia, the former finance minister said: “It gives me great pleasure to join the WBS… [It] will enable me to share my knowledge, experience and networks in order to empower and work with young, talented individuals, academics and business leaders.”