How are our ministers selected?
I OFTEN wonder what criteria is used to select cabinet ministers and director-generals in government. Is it at the whim and fancy of the president's favourite, or is it the excess from an overflowing talent pool from the ANC to occupy parliamentary seats because of their struggle contribution?
Even if it is gender-based, it comes with its own problems.
One only has to look at Riah Phiyega, the former national police commissioner's performance and the ultimatum by the president to the current public protector to gauge the depth of problem.
Despite not being able to complete her full terms at Absa and Transnet, Phiyega was seconded to the all-important post, only to fail and blame it on gender orchestrated contrivance.
We need people of practical and intellectual experience and vision in demanding portfolios. Fancy degrees and diplomas may enhance your CV but they offer no solidity and depth for the South African culture. We need academics with insight and powers of perception.
President Cyril Ramaphosa made the best decision when he appointed Justice Raymond Zondo as the Chief Justice of South Africa. He did this instead of bowing to pressure and appointing Justice Mandisa Maya, whom I have nothing but admiration for.
An example of someone who is socially clumsy or tactless is Fikile Mbalula, who has served as a minister of police and minister of sport, and is currently the minister of transport. From guns to potholes, I humbly ask where does his bachelor's and master's in economics fare in those portfolios?
Recently, the media reported about his strange and attention-seeking behaviour when he tweeted "Just landed in Ukraine!" Was this a joke? Was he bored or perhaps there was a desire to be part of some real action?
His tenures in all ministerial posts have not been without controversy. It was also reported that he recently used offensive language at a meeting with taxi bosses. In 2007, he referred to the UKZN as "nothing but Bombay". Mbalula has irked the ire of many but he continues to be the favoured son.
Another individual to go unnoticed is Malusi Gigaba, the former minister of home affairs. He was MP from 1999 but he resigned in 2001. In 2004, he was appointed deputy minister of home affairs, shifting to the position of minister of public enterprises in 2014.
It was a joke when he was appointed minister of finance by Jacob Zuma in a cabinet reshuffle in 2017, after the dismissal of Pravin Gordhan. Not even his bachelor's degree in education or his Master's degree in social policy could match the fiscal legerdemain of Gordhan or Tito Mboweni.
He courted controversy, and trouble seemed to follow him like a shadow - from sex tape revelations and an alleged affair to messy divorce proceedings.
Gigaba spent R7m on an overseas family holiday to New York and Asian countries. As Home Affairs Minister, he gave the Gupta family carte blanche service as far as SA passports were concerned, so it was no surprise that Justice Raymond Zondo fingered him in state capture.
It is alleged that he was one of those individuals who came home with bags of cash after a visit to Saxonworld.
Then we have Gwede Mantashe, the former ANC Secretary-General, a political relic destined for the pastures but instead, he was promoted to Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy to pass his time.
He is more suited to marshalling the ANC engine room as a strategist and operations guru. Although coming from a mining background, he recently made conflicting statements when he said we would not get rid of coal soon in the face of global climate change initiatives. Then when the courts threw out Shell's appeal, he commented that any seismic exploration for gas and oil in SA could only be good for the country.
A glaring and blatant example of dishonesty was the case of Pallo Jordan, a seasoned activist and MP who claimed he had a doctorate and was referred to as doctor. When the truth was unearthed, he resigned.
I can go on with the bad behaviour of some cabinet ministers, members of parliament and government officials.
It seems like it's just a way of life in SA. It seems like politics is like the weather nothing can be done about it. After all, there is much truth in Margaret Thatcher's statement that politics is like nappies. They both need to be changed for the same reason.