Tuesday 12 June 2012

The week that was...14 June 2012

   A really interesting few days in South Africa with Bheki Cele, ex Commissioner of Police being fired, President Zuma reshuffling his cabinet just before Manguang and the baby Boks scraping to win to get into the under 20 Rugby World Cup semi's.

Bheki Cele on Thursday became the third high-profile casualty of the police lease saga when he was fired by President Jacob Zuma.

Cele was sacked eight months after he was suspended by Zuma after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela laid the blame for the controversial police office lease deals at his door.

He has been replaced by Mangwashi Phiyega, the country's first woman police chief, who is a relative outsider to police circles, which has immediately raised objections from the DA who are unhappy with her lack of policing experience.

She is currently the chair of the presidential review committee on state owned enterprises, and deputy chair of the independent commission on the remuneration of office bearers.

Phiyega has considerable management experience, she has been a trustee of Nelson Mandela's foundation and an executive at Barclays-owned banking group Absa.


   For those involved in the e-tolls debacle, the price has been their jobs. The transport minister, Sibusiso Ndebele (to correctional services)n  and his deputy, Jeremy Cronin (now deputy minister  of public works, have both been replaced in the wake of the Gauteng e-tolls debacle after President Jacob reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday.

The reshuffle on Tuesday, the third in as many years, followed a special ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, where Zuma received a massive boost after the NEC decided with a clear majority to reject efforts by expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema to have his sentence overturned.


By appointing some key backers into vacant positions, without sacking anybody, Zuma was seen to have strengthened his hand.

   Other changes include, Lindiwe Sisulu moved from the defence ministry to public service and administration to replace the late Roy Padayachie. The move has been seen as a demotion as she is said to have harboured sympathies for Malema

   Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is the new defence minister, while Sibusiso Ndebele has taken up her position as correctional services minister.

   Public Enterprises Deputy Minister Ben Martins will replace Ndebele as minister of transport.


Oh, and on a positive note, the baby boks showed great heart by beating the English, with four second half tries, gaining a spot in the Under 20 Rugby World Cup semi-finals. SA will be playing Argentina while New Zealand faces Wales in the other semi-final - GO THE BABY BOKS!

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