'The weakest links in Zuma cabinet'

Just in case President Jacob Zuma is having trouble deciding how to go about the cabinet reshuffle that many commentators seem to think (despite official denials from the Presidency) is imminent, Athol Trollip, the Parliamentary leader of the opposition, has some tips for him.

Trollip said on Monday that the Democratic Alliance had isolated the five weakest links in the cabinet, and recommended that Zuma fire them all.

Richard Baloyi, the minister for Public Service and Administration heads his list.

"Baloyi's clumsy handling of labour relations came to a head with the recent protracted public service strike," Trollip said. "The inflation of the public service wage bill as a result of the strike agreement has placed a serious burden on state funds and will necessitate the diversion of finances from other important areas.

"Baloyi has also played a leading role in the anti-corruption and public expenditure task teams established by the Zuma administration to investigate misuse of public funds, both of which have repeatedly failed to make public reports on their progress."

With the communications department described as a "sinking ship" by its acting director general, Siphiwe Nyanda is next on the list. His ministerial tenure has been marred by poor performance and allegations of mismanagement and corruption and self-service, Trollip said.

"The recent dismissal of communications director-general Mamodupi Mohlala caused ontroversy, given that the decision was taken amid allegations that Nyanda was trying to centralise control of departmental tenders under his authority," Trollip said.

Under Nyanda, both the SABC and Sentech have floundered. The minister failed to ensure that the SABC met the requirements for the 1 billion rand funding lifeline from the Treasury and has also exceeded the limits of his authority in trying to intervene in the troubled public broadcaster's governance problems."

The DA declares that Blade Nzimande's performance at Higher Education and Training "has been woeful".

Trollip aid: "He has lacked the courage to take tough decisions, most notably in failing to disband the wasteful and inefficient SETAs and use the resources of the National Skills Fund to make industry-FET college collaborations productive.

"His authoritarian approach has seen him support the proposed media tribunal, and issue instructions to universities to teach courses which support the ANC's vision of a developmental state."

Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya has been one of the most poorly performing ministers in the Zuma cabinet as Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, according to the DA .

"With no clear programme of action and a tendency to intervene in an ad-hoc, unco-ordinated manner [she has allegedly fired managers who questioned her weak leadership and dismissed a task team mandated to get her department into shape], her ministry has achieved very little since its establishment last year," Trollip, said.

"Mayende-Sibiya has displayed an absolute disregard for transparency and accountability. She has failed to deliver reports on her department's progress and has a very poor relationship with the relevant portfolio and select committees thanks to her abysmal attendance and lack of communication about key issues."

State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele's abysmal handling of the reintroduction of the Protection of State Information Bill unquestionably constitutes grounds for his removal, Trollip said.

"In his interactions concerning the bill, Cwele has revealed such secretive instincts, not to mention worryingly illogical arguments, that his retention of this position poses a serious threat to media freedom and fundamental constitutional and democratic values."