Filling the most senior post in the treasury is long overdue

[View in browser]( [Mail & Guardian]( M&G Mornings | Tue 08 Aug   [Ron Derby] Of the many billboards that litter roads of Johannesburg, one stands out in its oddity — the Moti Group’s advert of the treasury’s former director general, Dondo Mogajane, as its new chairperson. Perhaps “new” is a bit stale; he has been in the office of the Zunaid Moti-owned operation for more than a year as the company tries to clean up its image and fix its governance structures. A herculean task. Outside of the oddity of the billboard — not many chairpeople are welcomed in such a manner — the billboard serves as a reminder of just how long the treasury has taken to replace Mogajane. This is arguably the most powerful position in the state and the country, because whoever sits in the office is the final gatekeeper of our finances. We all understood the importance when a desperate and corrupted president in Jacob Zuma raided the office in December 2015. News this week that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana finally has a candidate is long, long overdue. The health of the fiscus may not be in as desperate a position as it was four years ago, or at least not in the headlines, but we are still very much in choppy waters without a captain. That we are getting closer to filling the vacancy is good news, and for markets, the news that an insider — following tradition — is likely to be appointed is welcomed. Our continued rather austere approach to fiscal policy looks secure. In these extraordinary times in the aftermath of the Covid pandemic and deepening electricity crisis, I wonder about its efficacy. But I, too, have to understand that as an emerging market country and one mired with a state capture narrative, there’s little room to manoeuvre. We have to wait for the tide to change on emerging markets and manage the growing impatience with our low growth trap. Ron Derby | Editor-in-Chief [@Ronderby]( [Ernest Khosa]( [NSFAS urges unpaid students to get accredited to avoid ‘ghost payments’]( National Student Financial Aid Scheme implements new system to streamline financial support and root out fraudulent payments while thousands are awaiting for allowances [// Read more]( [Unisa to probe negligent exam markers]( [Unisa has seven days to respond to allegations of mismanagement]( Among the numerous allegations are that millions were used to refurbish the vice-chancellor’s official residence, which she is yet to move into [// Read more]( [naledi pandor (1)]( [Brics is not pro-Russian or anti-West, says Pandor]( South Africa would not subscribe to any expansion philosophy that could create more hostility in the world, according to the minister [// Read more]( Recommended Reads [Global food prices increased slightly in July, but the outlook remains promising]( The non-renewal of the Black Sea Grain Deal and India's rice ban continue to weigh heavily on production [// Read more]( [Civil society has collapsed in Hakainde Hichilema’s Zambia]( The state and quality of civil society is important for a functioning democracy, but Zambia’s has failed citizens [// Read more]( [Bathabile Dlamini allies win big at ANCWL provincial conferences]( Sisisi Tolase suffered her first loss since becoming women’s league president with her allies failing to bring back a win in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal [// Read more]( [‘Senzo Meyiwa pinned the guy to the wall,’ murder trial hears]( Judge Ratha Ratha Mokgoatlheng rebukes state witness Tumelo Madlala after he calls the accused ‘dogs’ [// Read more]( [Two killed, buses and cars torched as Cape Town taxi strike continues]( Taxi associations are protesting against the legal impounding of their vehicles [// Read more]( Pic of the day [Alfred Dunhill Championship - Day Three] A Giraffe is pictured at the neighbouring Kruger National Park game reserve. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) [Share]( [Share]( [Tweet]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Forward]( This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Mail & Guardian Media LTD · 25 Owl St · Braamfontein · Johannesburg, Gauteng 2001 · South Africa