President Jacob Zuma will be under massive pressure to explain why he fired former Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene during the State of the Nation Debate beginning in Parliament next week‚ the Democratic Alliance says.

The DA on Saturday described Nene’s resignation as an ANC MP after a long and distinguished career in the “finance family” as a “blow to Parliament”.

The former minister paid a high price for doing the right thing and speaking truth to power‚ and in the end sacrificed his seat because he was not prepared to sacrifice his integrity‚” said DA finance spokesman David Maynier.

“We do not know why the former minister resigned but the suggestion that he would be appointed to the New Development Bank is increasingly looking like a blatant lie manufactured to explain away the catastrophic decision to fire him in 2015.

“Whatever the case‚ President Jacob Zuma will be under massive pressure to explain why he fired the former minister during the State of the Nation Debate beginning on 11 February 2016 in Parliament‚” Maynier added.

In a surprise move that caused the country’s financial markets to tank and the rand to weaken to an all-time low‚ Nene was suddenly removed from his post as finance minister in December and replaced by ANC backbencher David Van Rooyen.

Van Rooyen was replaced just three days later by former finance minister Pravin Gordhan following a huge outcry.

At the time‚ Zuma claimed that he was acting with great haste because he needed “an experienced person” at the Brics bank where Nene would head the Africa Regional Centre.

However‚ Nene told the Financial Mail this week that he had yet to receive an offer for the position.