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'Padayachie must be ruthless'

Farzana Rasool
By Farzana Rasool, ITWeb IT in Government Editor.
Johannesburg, 25 Oct 2011

The communications sector is happy with the appointment of Dina Pule as the new minister of the department, but also acknowledges the loss of Roy Padayachie is a significant one.

President Jacob Zuma yesterday announced a national executive reshuffle that saw Padayachie becoming the minister of public service and administration, and deputy communications minister Obed Bapela becoming deputy minister in the presidency for performance monitoring and evaluation (PME).

Former public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi is now minister of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA).

Dina Pule was the deputy minister for PME and has now been appointed minister of communications. She was previously deputy minister of communications during Siphiwe Nyanda's term as minister.

The new communications deputy minister is now ANC MP Thembisa Stella Ndabeni.

Positive industry

Vodacom CEO Pieter Uys and MTN SA MD Karel Pienaar have welcomed the appointments of Pule and Ndabeni.

“We look forward to working together to help realise government's vision for the communications sector for 2020,” says Uys.

He also thanks Padayachie and Bapela for their “solid leadership” over the last year.

“MTN is confident that minister Pule's impeccable credentials as the deputy minister of Department of Communications and her sterling work in the Office of the Presidency will be brought to bear on the Department of Communications,” says Pienaar.

The MD also commends Padayachie for his work in spearheading the 2020 vision, which aims to see universal broadband in SA.

Cracking the whip

“It's a great loss to the industry to see Padayachie go, but Pule is the right person for the job if she focuses on the goals of the department,” says World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck.

If Pule and Ndabeni stay true to themselves, it will be a great thing for the department, according to Goldstuck.

He explains they have both been described as no-nonsense people. That's what's needed in communications. It is fine to be well-versed in the sector, but it's not fine if things don't get done.

“Bringing in two women who want to make things happen is a good thing. They'll be willing to crack the whip on the institution, companies and executives who stand in the way of communications progress.”

In terms of Padayachie's new role, Goldstuck says the minister has been recognised as someone of integrity, and that's what's needed for institutions like the State IT Agency that fall within the DPSA portfolio.

“The question is whether he can be ruthless about it. We didn't see ruthlessness at communications.”

Project delays

“It came out of nowhere. I'm completely shocked. I think Roy Padayachie was doing an excellent job. He knew the field inside and out,” says Democratic Alliance (DA) communications shadow minister Natasha Michael.

Her concern regards the fact that Pule served as deputy minister of communications while Nyanda was minister. “I sincerely hope she doesn't follow in his way of doing things.”

She also says the constant changes within communications are problematic, because major projects like the digital migration and the spectrum allocation keep getting put on hold. “We are worried now that things will get set back again.”

Nyanda was made communications minister in 2009, and towards the end of 2010 he was replaced by Padayachie.

Accessible minister

President spokesperson Mac Maharaj says the president does not have to give reasons for making such portfolio changes within government.

He adds the reshuffle is aimed to strengthen good governance. SA is beset with many problems, including service delivery from government, and this is a step towards correcting some of those shortfalls.

The ANC says the reshuffle will contribute significantly to strengthening government performance and capacity.

Shadow minister of public service and administration Ena van Schalkwyk says Padayachie as the new minister is a welcome change.

“He has been the deputy minister before he went to communications, and he contributed a lot. I find him a very accessible person so I'm quite excited about this.

“Minister Baloyi was a bit absent. We didn't see him at meetings or workshops that he should have attended, so he was a bit absent and that was disappointing. We couldn't communicate with him.”

Critical accountability

Zuma also axed co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Sicelo Shiceka and public works minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, and suspended police commissioner Bheki Cele, pending the outcome of an inquiry.

Public protector Thuli Madonsela found both ministers guilty of serious offences. Shiceka deliberately misled the president over the purpose of a trip to Switzerland, which he undertook at public expense and under false pretences.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde approved a controversial deal for a lease for a new police headquarters in Pretoria and failed to co-operate with the Madonsela's investigation.

Cele was found guilty of “maladministration” in a similar lease deal, which would have cost the taxpayers three times the market rate for a new police headquarters in Durban.

DA leader Helen Zille says the firm action by the president is better late than never. “Accountability is critical to making democracy work. If ministers abuse their power, they must be fired.”

This sentiment is shared by Congress of SA Trade Unions and South African Municipal Workers Union.

Now, please

The United Association of SA (UASA) also welcomes Zuma's decision, but says it takes far too long to conclude investigations into suspected wrongdoing on ministerial and senior government levels.

“The case of Bheki Cele is a case in point - UASA believes it will take months, if not years, to fully investigate and take disciplinary action against Cele. It is time for government to take immediate action when corruption or other wrongdoing is implicated.”

Founding member of the Joburg Advocacy Group Lee Cahill also says just booting people out of their Cabinet positions isn't sufficient.

“If appropriate, criminal charges should be considered. This move probably wouldn't have happened without the sterling work of the public protector and her team.”

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