Zuma brings in new blood
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma made nine changes to his executive yesterday when he announced a surprise cabinet reshuffle - his fourth reshuffle since 2009.
In one of the biggest moves, Zuma appointed Pietermaritzburg-born Yunus Carrim as Minister of Communications.
Zuma said that 20 years of democracy had changed the face of South Africa.
“We have achieved a lot in the past twenty years. To take this change forward, I have decided to make changes to the national executive,” said Zuma.
Carrim replaced the embattled Dina Pule as communications minister. The former deputy minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Carrim inherits a department fraught with challenges: the stagnation of the SABC, financial mismanagement and the task of switching the broadcasters to a digital signal.
Political analysts believe Tokyo Sexwale paid the price for his part in the ‘forces of change’ campaign in the runup to Mangaung. Sexwale was dumped from the Human Settlements portfolio and replaced by Connie September.
Praise for Carrim has come from all quarters following his appointment. Speaker of the eThekwini Municipality, Logie Naidoo said Zuma had made an excellent appointment.
“Yunus was a strong activist and has been involved in Parliament for a long time. It’s high time he became a minister. I think it’s an excellent appointment by the president. Yunus is a hard worker and I think he will turn the department around,” said Naidoo.
Political analyst Sanusha Naidoo said that Pule was a ‘horrible’ minister. “Yunus Carrim’s appointment is very interesting. He is an interesting person. He has been part of the establishment for many years and in Parliament for a while now. The interesting question is whether these ministers will be in their portfolios after next year’s elections,” said Naidoo.
MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works in KwaZulu-Natal, Ravi Pillay, said that Carrim’s appointment was well deserved. “His consistent record has been one of a selfless activist with absolute commitment to the public interest. He is a symbol of all of the best qualities in public office exemplifying the highest integrity, hard work and dedication.
He cut his political teeth in community work in Pietermaritzburg and as a student activist. The welfare of all our communities has been his constant pre-occupation,” said Pillay.
Carrim holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours and Masters in Sociology from the University of Warwick in England and an International Diploma in Journalism from Darlington College of Technology in England.
He was detained without trial for organising protests against the Soweto Massacre at the University of Durban-Westville during 1976. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of NIC.