Zuma camp promotes Lyndall

Johannesburg, 16 Jan 2008

Department of Communications DG Lyndall Shope-Mafole is to chair the ANC's sub-committee on political education and ideological work.

Yesterday's ANC announcement followed the first meeting of the party's revamped National Working Committee on Monday.

Shope-Mafole - who turned 50 on 1 January - was voted onto the ruling party's National Executive Committee (NEC) during its Polokwane conference in December. Communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri was not re-elected to the NEC.

Political heavyweight and presidency advisor Joel Netshitenzhe was the previous chairman of the political education and ideological work sub-committee.

The replacement, say political analysts, is an indication that Shope-Mafole is gaining influence within the leadership of the ANC.

Important mandate

The idea of strengthening political education within the party is not new, says Unisa professor Dirk Kotz'e.

"The party has been talking about political education for its members for some time now. Since the early 1990s, the ANC has attracted a lot of new members who are not as familiar with its history and ideology as its leaders would like," he explains.

Professor Susan Booysen, a political analyst at the University of the Witwatersrand, agrees: "The idea behind this sub-committee is to prepare induction programmes for newcomers. In recent months, we've seen a considerable amount of upheaval within the party so [the idea of political education] is once again gaining importance in the objectives of the leadership."

However, the role of the political education sub-committee is not only to deal with newcomers, adds Booysen.

"The other area under this portfolio is the preparation of newer generations to take leadership positions in the party and in government. Those people who have been identified as tomorrow's leaders are put through a fast-tracked development programme," she explains.

It's for this reason that the role has historically been held by a political heavyweight, says Kotz'e.

Lyndall who?

The analysts admit Shope-Mafole's appointment to the NEC, and now the political education sub-committee, left most observers surprised.

"Despite holding the communications DG post, Shope-Mafole has never appeared to be a political player. Obviously that has changed and the indications now are that she is close to Zuma and his camp," says Kotz'e.

Booysen agrees: "[The political observers' community] may have known little about her before, but I imagine we will get to know a lot more under the new regime. There is no doubt that Shope-Mafole has significantly increased her influence."

Working by moonlight

Despite Shope-Mafole's apparent lack of experience in the field of political education, Booysen's top concern is whether she will be able to juggle the responsibilities of her party and government work.

"This role is a huge responsibility within the ANC, but she already has a full-time job as communications DG. I can only say that Shope-Mafole is going to have to be a time magician or short sleeper to be able to deliver on both."

However, political analyst Adam Habib disagrees that Shope-Mafole's new responsibilities could impact on her daytime responsibilities.

"This is a leadership role. Shope-Mafole is not going to book training centres and set up courses. She is there to provide motivation and oversight as chairman. It really is far less of an operational responsibility. It shouldn't interfere with her work at the Department of Communications," he says.

At the time of publication, Shope-Mafole had not responded to ITWeb's requests for comment.