VARSITY HONOUR: Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene receives an honorary doctorate from Professor Nokwethemba Ndlazi at Durban’s Mangosuthu University of Technology yesterday during the university’s graduation ceremony. Picture: JONATHAN BURTON
FORMER finance minister Nhlanhla Nene still has “deep respect” for President Jacob Zuma.
Nene‚ who was fired by Zuma in December, said this yesterday during a graduation ceremony for accounting students at Durban’s Mangosuthu University of Technology‚ at which he was the guest of honour.
Asked about his relationship with Zuma‚ he responded: “I have deep respect for the president.
“He remains my president‚ the president of the country and that of the ANC.”
Nene was honoured by the university for his contribution in charting the country’s fiscal prudence.
In his speech‚ he urged financial students not to overlook the public service when considering careers‚ saying the country needed their skills.
Nene recently ended speculation about his future by joining investment giant Allan Gray.
“I have been in Cape Town for the past couple of weeks at the Allan Gray headquarters.
“A few days ago‚ I went through the induction process and other crucial aspects for anyone starting in a new position.”
He said the new position and the Mangosuthu University of Technology honour had been a blessing for him and his family.
“I have had the pleasure of working at various levels of government and business and that has been a blessing. I miss working at Treasury and any other place I have been a part of.”
He highlighted the need for South Africans to regenerate the moral fibre of society‚ which was the common thread in his keynote address to graduates.
He also had some strong words of caution for potential fraudsters‚ saying a career in the financial sector did not give them the freedom to do as they pleased or “to con people”.
“Money isn’t everything … [there is] more to life than making money but building a career … success cannot be measured by having cars,” Nene said.
“You can possess money, but don’t allow it to control you.
“Knowledge without character is a weapon of mass destruction, so is science without humanity.”
Nene – whose firing caused the rand to plummet – said it was with a deep sense of humility that he was accepting the honour from the university.
He urged graduates to go out into the world and make a difference.
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