Treasury deliberately excluded from Ministerial Task Team: Economist
An economist says it's surprising that no official from Treasury was included in the Ministerial Task Team established to address the current wave of student protests over free higher education.
The Presidency released a statement yesterday saying that the team would be working to normalise the situation at higher education institutions across the country.
READ ALSO: Students haven't held their end of the bargain: Nzimande
The team includes Ministers of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Home Affairs and Police - amongst others.
Economist Graeme Korner says a lot of people are saying that Treasury - despite being responsible for handling the public purse - was deliberately left out of the team.
"You sort of wonder - just at the risk of sounding critical - sending state security, police, ministers, defense and veterans, putting all of them into that task team - whether that creates a positively engaging atmosphere; but that's just me being critical," he said.
The eight-member team consists of:
- Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe as Convenor,
- Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande
- Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor
- Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Advocate Michael Masutha
- Minister of Police, Nathi Nhleko
- Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo
- Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and
- Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba
How in earth does this government get it right to have a Ministerial task team on the FUNDING of Education without the Minister of Finance??
— Dali Mpofu (@AdvDali_Mpofu) October 11, 2016
A Ministerial Task Team to address #FreeEducation protests but excludes the Finance Minister while the unrest is due to FUNDING!
— Vuyo Yekani (@VuyoYekani) October 11, 2016