New director has her work cut out in turning the NDPP around

WE HAVE one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

We have wonderful people and a toxic mix of not-so-wonderful people.

But events over the last couple of weeks continue to give our citizens hope.

The announcement of Shamila Batohi as NDPP director is a wonderful example of feminine power.

She is ideally suited for the job, and kudos must go to President Ramaphosa for this appointment.

Many of us were not happy when Jeff Radebe was chosen as chair to select the NDPP director, but sanity has prevailed.

Ms Batohi will have to repair years of damage to make the NDPP a formidable and credible institution.

Last week was also a wonderful week. Hearing Cheryl Carolus give testimony at the Zondo Commission was most interesting. Another person from the opposite sex with wonderful credentials.

She was well composed when giving her testimony – there was no hysteria, no emotion, just stating the facts as she saw them.

She carried herself well. She has one of the best Struggle credentials but she has not used it to gain fame or notoriety, unlike some of her fellow cadres.

In her testimony she laid bare the shenanigans of Malusi Gigaba, former minister of public enterprises, who, by all accounts, is reputed to be the biggest Gupta enabler in the cabinet of former president Zuma.

He can also allegedly lay claim to having been destroyer-in-chief of the state-owned enterprises.

He allegedly packed the boards of the state-owned enterprises with Gupta henchmen.

At Home Affairs he apparently did not fare much better. The parliamentary committee looking into the Guptas’ citizenship is still not complete.

It’s quite fitting that a court of law called out Gigaba as a liar.

Gigaba tends to protest his innocence. However, many of our citizens are waiting with bated breath for him to state his version of events at the Zondo Commission.

I trust that the commission has notified him and will subpoena him soon to give testimony.