David (Des) van Rooyen

Yes, Van Rooyen is the most (academically) qualified of Zuma’s finance ministers

South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has defended his controversial appointment of Des van Rooyen as finance minister in December 2015 by saying he is “more qualified” than his predecessors. Is that true?

Researched by Lebohang Mojapelo


David "Des" van Rooyen raises his hand as he is sworn in by judge Sisi Khampepe as South Africa's new finance minister on 10 December 2015 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Photo: AFP/GIANLUIGI GUERCIA
When President Jacob Zuma appointed the relatively unknown Des van Rooyen as finance minister in December the ensuing outrage caused him to change his mind four days later.

At a recent event in Pretoria Zuma reportedly defended his choice of Van Rooyen by saying: “He’s a trained finance and economic comrade, more qualified than any minister I have ever appointed there, in the finance issue.”

Several Africa Check readers contacted us to confirm if this was true, with IRS Investigations tweeting: “Before mocking President Zuma on his statement that Van Rooyen was most qualified for the job, why not fact check it first? Ask @AfricaCheck.”

Did Zuma speak of academic qualifications?

Enquiring whether Zuma was referring to academic qualifications, experience, or both, the president’s spokesman Bongani Majola said: “What do you think it means? I cannot tell you what the qualifications are, you have to research that on your own.”

Without clarification, we checked academic qualifications, although some argue that experience matters more or that the most important factor is to have the trust of the citizenry – all subjective measurements.

Several certificates and two master’s degrees

Van Rooyen has several certificates in governance and finance according to the South African government website. He was also awarded a master’s degree in management by the University of the Witwatersrand in 2010. This the university’s senior communications officer, Kemantha Govender, confirmed to Africa Check.

Van Rooyen’s most notable qualification is a master’s degree in finance, specialising in economic policy, from the University of London.The university’s communications officer, Laura Pritsch told Africa Check that Van Rooyen was awarded the degree on 31 December 2013 through their distance learning programme.

The university website states that the master’s programme is aimed at providing an understanding of financial markets and banks and is designed for students who work in economic policy in government, public institutions, international institutions and central banks.

Gordhan and Nene’s qualifications

What qualifications do Van Rooyen’s predecessors hold? Since taking office in 2009, Zuma appointed two other men to the position of finance minister.

South Africa’s current finance minister Pravin Gordhan was also finance minister from 2009 to 2014.

Gordhan’s highest academic qualification, according to his government profile, is a bachelor of science degree in pharmacy, which he received from the then University of Durban in 1973. We have been unable to confirm this with the university, however, but will keep trying.

(Note: Gordhan has been awarded two honorary doctorates: in commerce, by the University of South Africa and in law, by the University of Cape Town, both in 2007.)

The man whom Van Rooyen briefly replaced in December, Nhlanhla Nene, holds several certificates and diplomas in economics according to his government profile. His highest qualification, a bachelor of commerce honours in economics from the University of Western Cape, was awarded in September 2009. Africa Check verified this with the university’s communications and media liaison manager Luthando Tyhalibongo.

Conclusion: Van Rooyen is the most academically qualified finance minister Zuma has appointed

With a master’s of science in finance, specialising in economic policy, Des van Rooyen carries the highest academic qualification of the finance ministers Zuma has appointed during his term.

The highest academic qualification Pravin Gordhan, minister of finance from 2009 to 2014, holds is said to be a bachelor of science in pharmacy, while Nhlanhla Nene, who was in the position from 2014 to 2015, has a bachelor of commerce honours in economics.

- See more at: https://africacheck.org/reports/yes-van-rooyen-is-the-most-academically-qualified-of-zumas-finance-ministers/#sthash.VXyaY8SU.dpuf

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President Jacob Zuma replaced Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene with ANC MP David van Rooyen on Wednesday night.

Van Rooyen is the whip of the standing committee on finance and whip of the economic transformation cluster.

He was a former Umkhonto we Sizwe operative in the 1980s and has held a number of leadership positions in the ANC from 1994 to 2007.

Van Rooyen is a former executive mayor of Merafong Municipality and a former North West provincial chairperson of the South African Local Government Association.

He has an advance Business Management Diploma, a Diploma in Municipal Governance, a certificate in Municipal Governance, a certificate in Councillor Development, a certificate in Municipal Finance, a certificate in Economic and Public Finance and a Masters Degree in Public Development and Management.

In July 2014, the University of London conferred a MSc Finance to Van Rooyen.


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JOHANNESBURG - New Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says only available funds will be used to fund nuclear power plants.

At a media briefing earlier today, Gordhan confirmed a Cabinet decision to pursue nuclear has been made, but that a thorough procurement process now lies ahead.

Last night, Gordhan was returned to his old portfolio after days of chaos on the markets following President Jacob Zuma’s decision to fire Nhlanhla Nene and replace him with David van Rooyen.

Van Rooyen was only in his position for four days before making way for Gordhan who today assured investors there would be no change in financial policies.

“There are times when you have to admit that there was a miscalculation, there needs to be a review of the decision and we need to move on to a new scenario. Regrettably, I represent the new scenario.”

Gordhan says a decision on how to fund the nuclear build programme has not been made and the treasury will tread carefully.

“And at the same time ensure that we reach our fiscal goals. Fiscal consolidation over a period of time, which means you want to narrow the deficit.”

Gordhan says the affordability of the projects needs to be seriously considered.

“We will only do that thing on whether it’s affordable. We can’t spend money that we don’t have, we can’t make commitments when we know that we are not going to get the money.”

Gordhan also talked tough about the state of the country’s state owned enterprises, including the South African Airways (SAA), saying government will not be dictated to.