Newly appointed South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor Gill Marcus emphasised on Tuesday that she did not see her appointment as a political one.

"I am not bound to anyone politically," she said at her first press conference following her appointment.

Earlier, Marcus announced that the SARB's Monetary Policy Committee had decided to keep the key repo rate unchanged at 7%.

"I hope and trust that my appointment has the confidence of all the people of this country," she added.

"I have a responsibility to all South Africans."

However, Marcus said she welcomed debate around the SARB's focus and mandate, acknowledging that the Alliance Summit of the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions had on the weekend decided to set up a task team to review the Central Bank's role.

"I am very happy to engage... around the world the whole purpose of central banks is being questioned ... it's not the same as it was before."

She added that the SARB would engage with those which had concerns about its role.

However, she stressed that the role of the SARB was to combat inflation.

"It is a constitutional mandate," Marcus added.

She said the task team set up by the Alliance Summit had proposed to report back by February.

"That comes close to the budget and the Minister of Finance and I have spoken out it."

Marcus confirmed that work was still in progress on the question of the difference between the repo and prime rates, raised by previous governor Tito Mboweni.

"I've been here one week - miracles take longer," Marcus said.