TimesLive reports that trade union federation Cosatu says newly appointed Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba is not the right person for the job as he doesn't have an economic background.  

President Jacob Zuma axed Gigaba's predecessor Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas late on Thursday in a widely-criticised a move.  "Gigaba is no economist.  We need to bring more progressive economic thinkers in that institution so that they temper the hard-line neo-liberal position of the past.  Gigaba is not going to formulate policy as a political head.  He is going to provide political leadership to people who are in charge of analysing the global economic situation‚" said Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla.  He also indicated that Cosatu’s were not informed about the reshuffling of Zuma’s cabinet‚ but learnt about it through the media as they were out of the country.  Cosatu was due to hold a special central executive committee meeting on Monday to discuss‚ among other issues‚ the implications of Zuma's cabinet reshuffle.

• Read this report by Neo Goba in full at TimesLive

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