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Sat May 25 21:06:55 SAST 2013

Zuma demotes 'loose cannon' Sisulu

Staff reporter and Sapa | 13 June, 2012 00:01
Lindiwe Sisulu
Image by: Lauren Mulligan / The Times

Along with the axing of national police commissioner Bheki Cele, President Jacob Zuma on Monday, announced changes to his cabinet.

One of the key announcements was Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu's move from the powerful portfolio to Public Service and Administration.

According to ANC insiders, Sisulu had become a "loose cannon".

"She is not easy to deal with and has stood her ground most of the time," a senior ANC insider said.

Her replacement, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, according to sources, was happy to remain in the cabinet and would "accept anything she is given".

Other changes include Ben Martins as Transport Minister, replacing S'bu Ndebele, who has been moved to Correctional Services.

But Jeremy Cronin, Ndebele's deputy, has not been left unscathed, leaving many wondering whether the e-toll saga had taken its toll on the pair.

Cronin has been moved to Public Works as Thulas Nxesi's deputy. He has been replaced by Sindisiwe Chikunga.

Other changes include Gratitude Magwanishe as Public Enterprises deputy minister.

Hlengiwe Mkhize was appointed Economic Development deputy minister, which was left vacant after Enoch Godongwane resigned. Mduduzi Manana has been appointed as Blade Nzimande's deputy in Higher Education.

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BornintheRSA

Posted 346 days ago
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Her disrespect for parliament and her wanton waste of public funds should have earned her the boot - right out of cabinet and parliament - not a demotion.
A (ex)minister of defence being described as a "loose cannon". Is that funny or shameful?
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AnotherTaxPayer

Posted 346 days ago
LOL, Loose cannon. More like loose change.
I'm sure those submarines from the arms deal are still sitting in a dry dock in Simonstad.
But I suppose politics is more important than national security..
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deebee

Posted 346 days ago
I'm glad that Sisulu has been taken down a peg or two - but is it really enough? Moreover, whilst the furore over her shifting sideways and the new police commissioner grab the headlines, Zuma has dealt yet another blow to education in South Africa.

He has appointed a 28 year old as Deputy Minister of Higher Education. A 28 year old who has not completed any higher education, but did oppose Julius Malema at the last ANCYL bun fight. A 28 year old who was a director of the Youth League company that was being investigated for fraud before they shut it down. A 28 year old who is the director of five other companies and owns properties in at least three cities in South Africa and has several other businesses - all whilst never having had a paying, working job.

This at the same time that the Global Competitiveness Report ranks South Africa's education at 133 out of 142 countries surveyed - absolutely, diabolically pathetic, in other words. And who do we get in this critical position? A F22kikng 28 year old tenderpreneur who'se only achievement is to stand up to motor mouth Malema. It makes me sick. Zuma, you are a collosal c*nt.

Daffy

Posted 346 days ago
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she thinks her surname makes her superglue and domestos in one. good riddance the SANDF will now be able to speak their minds!
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Timbuck9

Posted 345 days ago
Bet you TEARS were shed... H.R.H. has LOST her LITTLE PRIVATE ARMY!!!!!!!!!

ROFLMAO!!!!!!

WHere she is going, Boy oh Boy is she in for a ROUGH RIDE or what?

Let hope this will open her EYES and she walks AWAY from Politics forever.... RETIRED HURT!
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Timbuck9

Posted 339 days ago
Can someone PLEASE PULL HER WIG DOWN.... Looks like a COW PAT !!!!!

Les4uu

Posted 346 days ago
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Lindiwe Sisulu my love, you are in for a tough time with the Public Sector Unions, I feel sorry for you because negotiations have deadlocked and it will be very tough for you to solve wage negotiations.

Les4uu

Posted 346 days ago
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I'm willing to offer you some special massage just for you to relieve stress of demotion, but i wish you the best in your new portfolio.

AaronGumede

Posted 346 days ago
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Ndebele was frustrated by Zuma because those who were supposed to report to him like Sanral CEO undermined him because they are connected to Zuma. It was amazing how come Gordhan even undermined the ANC 's efforts to look for alternative funding method for e-tolling but run to court against us using our monies. Who is controlling Zuma, ANC or still suspect individuals and families?

truthwins

Posted 346 days ago
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She does not mind being booted out because there is probably a big fat reward this goes with it.

Chillis

Posted 346 days ago
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@Lindiwe. these things happen, for a reason!
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TercoComo-mula

Posted 346 days ago
.........more money??????.....
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m1si2zi3nzo4

Posted 346 days ago
The reason one can think of is that she was the odd one out within the security cluster. She was also regarded as being within the wrong camp, and very outspoken, if you think of it. Her replacement has done the Shaik, and will do anything to stay in cabinet. Anything, if you know what I mean.

Sbuda is unable to rake in the money, and was not very much sold on this Zuma Tsunami from the start.

Chikunga did what every portfolio chair must do, to get noticed. Shout out the obvious, with the public at those who fall out of favor of the elite.

BobbyBob

Posted 346 days ago
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Public Service and administration is a difficult portfolio, and one where most of us find our roots in criticising the ANC for the frustration we feel as a result of incompetent delivery. Lindiwe can add real value here, tough as she is. I dont think this is a demotion, it's an attempt to make things work.
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m1si2zi3nzo4

Posted 346 days ago
It is a demotion. A cabinet minister serves only as a bridge between policy making - which amounts to the whim is of the political elite - and the administration, which is the real deal. It is the head of administration who calls the shots, in terms of both the technical and human aspects of it. And the politician depends entirely on the administration. She can only get the flak from the rampant unions in negotiations, as well as bring in the budget from parly, which is always a minor addition to the previous year's.
et is miniscule.
The flak she gets from the unions is misplaced, because she is not responsible for the increase, and the administration's budg

RSA.MommaCyndi

Posted 346 days ago
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LOL
Poor Cronin. First he had to sit on both sides of the fence during the e-toll fiasco and now he will have to sit on both sides of the fence during every other matter.
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m1si2zi3nzo4

Posted 346 days ago
He is a real crony. Him and his SACP's Blade. They never think of the job they are paid to do, but how to fight to keep it. Their fortunes are pinned on the president, who has increased his share of senile dementia by appointing another senile spokesman. Now we have a double dose.

Conradp

Posted 346 days ago
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Pat on the back President Zuma. This loose canon thinks because her father was the big struggle icon & that her brother is speaker of the House the name Sisulu means to the big forehead Parliament belongs to her family. She is arrogant, rude and very disruptive. This big forehead should not have been given another portfolio, Zuma was supposed to have boosted this little out. According to ANC insiders, Sisulu had become a "loose cannon". why this decision to have shift this woman to Public Service and Administration only to f?ck it up like she did as defence Minister.

Bye Bye big forehead, learn to comb your head so everybody can see you getting bolder by day.

njabulo1

Posted 346 days ago
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Beauty, brains & riding on the family name never make a good combination, she should have been fired outright not demoted, her parents had never for a single day became arrogant as her.

SecretVoice

Posted 346 days ago
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Moving people around in government has no benefit whatsoever. You can either do a job or not.
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GregQuinn

Posted 342 days ago
If Zuma stopped appointing unproven idiots to cabinet he wouldn't have to shuffle them around in the first place. Surely he must understand if he appoints the right people, and not cadres that will work in his interest things will get better?

But no it's all about self empowerment and being surrounded by those who you know will have your back come election time.

nsukuangel

Posted 346 days ago
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He Should has fired the whole cabinet, including himself. oh my Africa, have Mercy. Useless bunch...

mbongwa_mugabe

Posted 346 days ago
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How many reshuffling are we going to see in zuma administration? Help us God.

Stirrer

Posted 346 days ago
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Gone is the old "Mshini wam, mshini wam" dance routine - now Zuma's latest dance jig will be to the tune of : "I'm shuffling, I'm shuffling"!

MagashaRasemana

Posted 346 days ago
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All we do is move poor performing people around. What makes Zuma think they will do better in the next position? They should be fired instead. It is starting to look like our President is clueless. How much more reshuffling can we expect before the end of his term?
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GregQuinn

Posted 342 days ago
Starting to look like our president is clueless?

I think we established that a few years ago.
LOL