Can Lesufi be both a political spokesman and a spin doctor?

AN OPINION piece by spokesman for the Department of Basic Education Panyaza Lesufi has brought into focus the practice of government spin doctors doubling as political leaders — raising questions whether an official spokesman should be allowed to make news.

In his piece, published last week, Mr Lesufi proposed reconciliation between the African National Congress (ANC) and its expelled former youth leader Julius Malema.

Although less vocal, Mr Lesufi’s colleague and Department of Transport spokesman Tiyani Rikhotso is also a branch chairman of the ANC youth league. Mr Lesufi is a member of the ANC in Gauteng.

Last year, former spokesman for the Hawks McIntosh Polela lost his job after controversial comments he made on Twitter.

Mr Lesufi argued in his piece change, transformation and economic empowerment could be boosted if the ANC and Mr Malema’s newly formed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) were on the same side.

The EFF is due to contest next year’s general elections, but Mr Malema has since rejected the proposal for talks with the ANC.

Mr Lesufi’s article, which has set him up against his support base — aligned to President Jacob Zuma — as well as his opponents within the party in Gauteng, had been written in his “personal capacity”, he said.

Last week he declined to make any further public comment. “There is nothing wrong with starting a debate. Let other people put their own views,” he said.

But it seems he is unlikely to escape the consequences, for his standing both in political circles and the government, after appearing to align his views with those of Mr Malema — who has created powerful enemies in the ANC. A meeting of the Gauteng ANC provincial executive committee next week is expected to look into Mr Lesufi’s controversial public utterances. He had been touted as a potential candidate for ANC secretary in Gauteng as early as next year, when the province goes to an elective conference.

A member of the Gauteng ANC executive said Mr Lesufi would have a platform at the next meeting to raise his points.

“We will give him the opportunity to say what he is thinking. It is not clear whether he is talking about a merger between the EFF and the ANC or what,” said the source.

Political analyst Somadoda Fikeni said Mr Lesufi’s case raises questions whether civil servants could also be activist political leaders or whether a separation is needed. “Should he, as a spokesman, make news, or report news about his department?” he asked.

Through the Municipal Systems Act, the government has sought to curb dual political and government roles at local level where tensions between party and government officials have often hampered service delivery.

Mr Fikeni said the attempt to spur debate about Mr Malema would create “a number of political mine- fields” for Mr Lesufi. “There may be some who are still attached to (Mr Malema) but the number is not enough to bolster anyone with aspirations for a top post.”

Mr Rikhotso said being an activist and working with communities on the ground allowed him “a better appreciation of the challenges, and (to come) up with practical responses in terms of policy”.

Gauteng-based leader of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association Kebby Maphatsoe — a member of the ANC national executive and among Mr Zuma’s chief lobbyists in Gauteng — said the association did not support Mr Lesufi’s bid for talks between the ANC and Mr Malema.

Mr Lesufi’s ally in Gauteng and chairman of the ANC youth league’s interim leadership, Mzwandile Masina, said a debate on Mr Malema would not benefit the ANC.

Mr Malema was not on the agenda of next week’s meeting, said spokesman for the ANC in Gauteng Nkenke Kekana.