Nene to hold the line on nuclear energy procurement: Interview

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene‚ in an interview with Carol Paton‚ writer at large for BDlive‚ says he will hold the line on the procurement of nuclear energy if it is unaffordable‚ and will reduce the head count of the public service to ensure spending stays in line with fiscal targets.

Mr Nene is under enormous political pressure to accede to a Presidency-backed plan to procure 9‚600MW of nuclear energy capacity at a time when public finances are at their weakest since the mid 1990s.

Underlining this pressure was the appearance of a fake intelligence dossier last week‚ smearing top Treasury officials as apartheid agents and alleging that they and Mr Nene are part of a conspiracy by the old white establishment to control the Treasury.

The document aroused grave concern among the public‚ and in political and investor circles‚ as it is feared it may signal a political attack on the Treasury‚ which until now has been a strong source of confidence given its ability to exercise tight control over government finances. – BDlive

Source: RDM News Wire.

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