Godongwana hits back at MK, says party leader Zuma to blame for SA's financial crisis

CAPE TOWN - Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has hit back at the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, saying its president, Jacob Zuma, was to blame for much of the country's current financial crisis.

He said if it wasn't for the billions doled out to failing state-owned enterprises during the state capture years, the country’s debt would be less. 

Godongwana has come under fire from the MK's Des van Rooyen in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon during a debate on Treasury’s budget. 

The country's shortest-reigning finance minister labelled the budget "meaningless jargon".

Once comrades in arms, Godongwana did not hold back in apportioning blame for the country’s budget deficit and growing debt on former president, Jacob Zuma. 

"What happened, which members of [the] MK Party can’t accept, is that state capture crept in, led by their president."

The MK Party bemoaned government’s inability to offer free education and the high number of unemployed black graduates. 

But Godongwana reminded the party that state-owned enterprises received R520 billion in bailouts during the state capture years. 

"Where did that money come from? It was cutting R60 billion from the police, R247 billion from health and education, R40 billion from the army, by their leader. He was overseeing it."

MK MP Van Rooyen has also alleged that former senior Treasury officials were in cahoots with white-owned businesses, as evidenced by their current employment.