Cape Town - The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) wants President Jacob Zuma to explain the removal of Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister, adding that it noted "with concern" the axing.
"Mr Nene had begun to find his feet after 18 months in the post and brought with him a number of years’ experience as Deputy Finance Minister," the body said in a statement.
"For SACCI and the business community at large, the consistency of our macro-economic policy environment is of paramount importance for trade and investment. Any major decisions which have a material impact on creating confidence must be weighed up carefully."
It said while ANC MP David van Rooyen was new in his role and his experience and capabilities unproven, "we hope the President and his cabinet will be cognisant of this fact and give this area of macro-economic policy stability a high level of support".
Sacci said, as an important and key stakeholder, it looked forward to Zuma's motivation for the decision with the business community "as a matter of priority".
Van Rooyen was sworn in as the new Finance Minister at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
He said that is aware he is facing a "colossal" assignment in his new job.
"As you are all aware, mine is a colossal assignment coming at a time when the global economic outlook is not favourable, more especially for emerging markets," he said.