Cyril’s plan to stop violence

Women’s rights, gender power relations can be taught in school.

Presidency says no envoys have been appointed, but DA stands by its story.

The presidency has dismissed suggestions that a cushy diplomatic deployment has been reserved for controversial former social development minister, Bathabile Dlamini.

The rumour sparked an outcry from the public and opposition parties, which said such an appointment would be irrational and unconstitutional.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko lambasted the Democratic Alliance (DA) which claimed to have received a report that the president intended to appoint Dlamini as an ambassador.

“The president has not announced the appointment of any ambassadors. The DA is on a fishing expedition.

“When the president has decided on appointments to the foreign service, he will announce them,” Diko said.

Earlier DA MP Darren Bergman said the party was concerned that Ramaphosa had kept mum about the rumour. Bergman said the DA wrote to the president last Friday requesting clarity on the issue. This was a sequel to the parliamentary question the party asked International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor about the matter.

The minister said Ramaphosa would announce new ambassadors at an appropriate time, and that she did not appoint them.

Bergman said the DA had been reliably informed there was intent to appoint Dlamini as an ambassador. “This is cause for great concern, and it appears such positions are reserved for politicians found guilty of misconduct during their term of service in high executive office.”

The Constitutional Court found Dlamini had lied in the South African Social Security Agency grants saga. The court ordered her to pay part of the cost personally and Ramaphosa was criticised for not acting against her for breaching the executive ethics code.

Dlamini is an ardent follower of Jacob Zuma and an influential figure in the ANC as president of the ANC Women’s League.

It’s believed that Ramaphosa wanted to avoid annoying the league, which did not support his presidential campaign.

Bergman cited the Constitutional Court’s “momentous” findings on Dlamini’s transgressions,

Dlamini is not suited to hold the office of a diplomat

saying: “The position of minister of social development she occupied at the time demanded a commitment to ethical behaviour and public service.

“Instead, she used her position to place herself between constitutionally enshrined rights and those entitled to them.

“Diplomats in the SA foreign service are required to advance SA interests and values, yet the

Constitutional Court specifically found Dlamini’s conduct flew in the face of the very values that underpin our constitution.

“The DA believes Dlamini is not suited to hold the office of a diplomat.”

Minister Pandor’s spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said they knew nothing about the appointment. –