COSATU Media Monitor, 18 March 2010
Mluleki Mntungwa
|
Contents
1.1 Traffic dispute deal costs ratepayers
1.2 Teacher unions vow to oppose Sadtu’s bid for labour monopoly
1.3 ‘Dompas’ to go to the toilet - workers’ shocking claims
2.2 ANC leaders own Sishen firm
2.3 ANC to counter Cope with motion of confidence in Zuma
2.4 ANC wants action on petrol bombers
2.5 MPs praise the president's hotline
2.6 Malema scoffs at complaints
2.7 ANC: Zille a cultural chauvinist
2.8 Now it’s shivambu - Malema’s sidekick tries to gag media
2.9 COPE brings no-confidence motion today
2.10 President goes on image offensive
1. Workers
1.1
Traffic dispute deal costs ratepayers
Gareth Wilson, Weekend Post, 18 March 2010
|
NELSON Mandela Bay traffic officers have signed an agreement with the municipality, bringing to an end a turbulent salary and back-pay dispute which led to a massive disruption on the city’s roads two weeks ago. It is estimated the deal will cost ratepayers more than R13-million in the next 3½ years. Furthermore, according to a senior municipal official who did not want to be named, the deal was struck after traffic officers were successful in having a clause revoked which stipulated that each had to issue “about 10 fines a day” – the quota in municipalities nationally. Between 80 and 100 traffic officers gathered at the Sidwell traffic department yesterday to negotiate the deal between their respective unions and the municipality. The Herald reliably learnt that both unions, the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), signed the agreement, stating that traffic officers would be obtaining back pay for three years and nine months, as well as one pay grade increase. Imatu chairman Johann Beukman said: “The members are happy about the outcome and I feel that we have done well.” However, the municipal official said: “What the metro fails to realise is that they have just signed an agreement permitting the traffic officers to get more money for doing the bare minimum, which will ultimately result in a loss of money.” DA safety and security spokesman Gustav Rautenbach said the agreement would cost about R3-million a year for the back-pay alone. “I am happy this matter has been resolved, but I still blame the municipality for dragging this issue out for nearly 10 years.” At the time of the strike two weeks ago, officers were demanding a two-grade promotion and 10 years’ back-pay, while the municipality counter offered with a one-grade increase and one year’s back-pay. |
1.2 Teacher unions vow to oppose Sadtu’s bid for labour monopoly |
|
SUE BLAINE, Business Report, 18 March 2010 |
|
TEACHER unions plan to oppose what they have described as an attempt by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) to “destroy” them.
Sadtu has proposed that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) constitution be amended to disallow unions with less than 100000 members, or union coalitions where none of the constituents has 100000 members. That would destroy SA’s six other teacher unions because they would have no bargaining power within the council.
“We will oppose this by counter- proposal because it will kill the other unions, all their rights will be taken away,” said National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA (Naptosa) president Ezra Ramasehla.
The proposal is on the formal agenda of a council meeting on Thursday next week, and can only be accepted if Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga agrees with it.
Motshekga is a leading light in the African National Congress (ANC) and chairwoman of its women’s league. Sadtu is the second-largest member of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), which is in turn a member of an alliance together with the ANC and South African Communist Party.
Motshekga’s spokeswoman, Hope Mokgatlhe, said the minister had received no communication from Sadtu on the proposal and would give her input once the union or ELRC approached the ministry.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on Motshekga to “stand up to Sadtu’s bullying” and reject the proposal out of hand.
“Sadtu’s record of irresponsible strikes and protection of the worst teachers in our education system indicates that if it gets undisputed power to represent teachers, it will push our teetering education system over the cliff of total failure,” said James Lorimer, the DA’s spokesman on basic education.
According to the latest ELRC vote-weights document, Sadtu has 236360 members and is in a coalition with the 4743-strong Cape Teachers Professional Association. Naptosa is the second-largest ELRC member, with 40327 members. Several other unions have memberships ranging from about 27000 to just over 3000.
Sadtu spokeswoman Nomusa Cembi said the union was not prepared to discuss the proposal beyond confirming it.
1.3 ‘Dompas’ to go to the toilet - workers’ shocking claims |
|
|
|
|
WORKERS building a luxury hotel on the Cape Town beachfront say they are forced to use the “dompas” system when they want to use the toilet. The 36 mainly Zimbabwean workers claim they were also assaulted at the Realcor Cape construction company site and were banned from entering “white” offices. When Sowetan visited the site for the new Radisson Blu Blaauwberg Beach Hotel on Cape Town’s beach front Bloubergstrand suburb this week, several workers claimed they had to seek paper “passes” before they could use the toilet. Worker Ben Mandizera added: “They call us baboons.” According to refugee rights group People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty (Passop), Simon Karairwa had told them a foreman recently punched him twice in the face. The Zimbabweans said when they complained about the conditions, the white foremen threatened to have them deported. Last year they approached the Department of Labour for help, but were told to sort out the issue with their employer, they said. Gerald Vasco, a bricklayer from Mozambique, said he was offered R24 an hour, but was instead paid just R18 an hour. Another Zimbabwean, too afraid to identify himself, said he had broken his hand on the job but the firm was refusing to compensate him. “I really need help. I don’t know what to do ,” he said . Workers said they had been on site for 18 months and expected to stay until the hotel was completed. But they alleged they had been asked to sign notices agreeing that their jobs would end on March 24. They have refused to sign, saying they “did not see it coming”. The workers also alleged that the firm owed them money as they were promised R18 an hour, but were paid only R13 an hour. The site director, who identified himself only as Jacques, called the police to remove Sowetan and Passop’s Braam Hanekom from the site. “Go back and work for (President Robert) Mugabe,” he barked. He told Sowetan the workers’ allegations were untrue and accused the workers of using vulgar language and of assaulting his staff. He said the workers were well treated. The Radisson hotel group referred Sowetan to public relations director Marcus Brewster. Brewster said the Radisson group was not responsible for the hotel until construction was finished. Realcor Cape confirmed that Jacques de Ridder is the site manager. Realcor’s Lionel Lelyveld denied that a “dompas” system existed. “A building site can be dangerous. Realcor needs to know at all times where employees are,” he said . “If they use the toilet, they need to sign a book.” He denied that management assaulted the workers, saying the only assault De Ridder knew about was “between a Xhosa gentleman and a Zimbabwean gentleman”. He said De Ridder was available to assist workers. “If they are prepared to ask him for a loan, they would have no problem reporting an assault to him.” Lelyveld denied that any “white” offices exist. He admitted that De Ridder had told workers that if they were unhappy , “perhaps Mr Mugabe would have jobs for them”. He said De Ridder had had a meeting with workers after Sowetan’s visit, which “ended on a positive note”. |
|
2. South Africa
2.1 ANC steps tyrannical |
||
|
||
|
IT WOULD be naïve to expect that the curtailment of some of the freedoms we take for granted would announce itself with rolling drums. That is why the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. The past few days have suggested that we keep our eyes peeled on the prize that is our freedom. The week started with the ANC Youth League using questionable resources to tap into affairs of a journalist who, in their opinion, had committed the cardinal sin of writing about the affairs of its president Julius Malema. It is neither here nor there whether the Youth League’s facts have merit. What is of concern is that the party has used its proximity to state and institutional power to further its own short-term agenda of intimidating journalists who might in the future want to reveal dirt on the party. It is no small matter when a ruling party affiliate is able to tap into what otherwise should be private affairs of civilians and gets away with it. While we were getting to terms with this shocking scenario, it was reported that the Presidency had banned lobby group Equal Education from gathering in the gardens in front of the Union Buildings. It is cold comfort that the Presidency only relented after the group launched a court action challenging the highest office in the land. For a party that rallied around its leader when they believed that those opposed to his ascendancy abused state institutions, the ANC’s complicity and indifference to these abuses of power is course for alarm for all those who value freedom. |
||
2.2 ANC leaders own Sishen firm
Jan de Lange and Jana Marais, NEWS24, 18 March 2010
Johannesburg - An unknown company with prominent ANC figures as its shareholders has reportedly been granted prospecting rights for the 21.4% share in Sishen's mineral rights which, up to last month, belonged to ArcelorMittal.
Kumba, which owns Sishen, one of the world's biggest iron-ore mines, announced the news on Wednesday, but did not disclose the name of the company. Sake24 however understands that it is a completely unknown entity that has apparently never before been involved in mining, with prominent ANC shareholders.
Kumba, which itself applied to the Department of Minerals and Energy for mining rights in order to access the mineral rights, has appealed the department's decision.
At the time of publication it was not clear what the outcome would be, especially as Kumba has been mining the extensive Kathu area in the Northern Cape for decades through its subsidiary, Sishen Iron Ore.
An observer of the process points out that prospecting rights have been awarded to this third party, and not mining rights.
How can anyone prospect in an area that has already been mined for 40 years, asked the source.
Sandile Nogxina, director-general for mineral resources, told Bloomberg that holders of prospecting rights had the exclusive right to apply for mining rights.
He said that if prospecting rights are awarded to someone, no-one else can be given the mining rights.
Another point is that ArcelorMittal is the only likely buyer of ore mined on the basis of these rights.
Until last month Mittal paid cost-plus-3% for 6.25m tons of iron ore from Sishen a year, based on its 21.4% stake in the mine's mineral rights.
It will now probably pay cost-plus-5% or 6%, while the third party will pocket the 2% or 3% difference without lifting a finger, the source observes.
2.3 ANC to counter Cope with
motion of confidence in Zuma
By Caiphus Kgosana, Business Report, 18 March 2010
President
Jacob Zuma is to be boosted by the ANC’s tabling of a motion of
confidence in him in parliament on Thursday.
The motion comes at a time when opposition parties have been accusing Zuma of
failing to show leadership and when he is still reeling from revelations that
he fathered a child out of wedlock,
The motion is meant to counter a motion of no-confidence in Zuma by Cope which
will be debated in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon.
The ANC has called a three-line whip to ensure its benches are full of MPs for
the debate.
The party on Wednesday accused the DA of “cultural chauvinism”
after the opposition party objected to the increase in the budget of the
spousal office, which has almost been doubled since Zuma took office.
ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga said the motion was intended to show that
Parliament had full confidence in Zuma’s leadership.
“We have no doubt whatsoever that the President has, in line with his
responsibilities outlined in Chapter 5 of the Constitution, executed effectively
his responsibilities as head of state. This was confirmed by various
independent rating agencies since he took office in May last year, which show
the people’s support in the leadership of President Zuma,” he said.
Motshekga repeated his earlier criticism of Cope’s motion, saying it was
embarrassing that the party was engaging in what he termed “a publicity
seeking charade” while failing to contribute significantly to debates of
national importance.
Cope was on Wednesday night putting the finishing touches to its motion of
no-confidence in Zuma, which will be presented by parliamentary leader Mvume
Dandala.
Spokesman Phillip Dexter said the ANC's plans to table a counter-motion
“shows just how politically bankrupt the ruling party is.”
Meanwhile the ANC said it was disappointed by DA leader Helen Zille’s
criticism of the increase in the budget of the spousal office.
Motshekga described Zille’s comments that the “size of the
President’s family cost the state exorbitantly’ as distasteful and said
they demonstrated “cultural intolerance of the worst kind.”
“Those who have been making a lot of noise about the cost to the state of
the president’s family are guilty of cultural chauvinism," he said.
Zille was quoted as saying Zuma’s polygamy was costing the taxpayer, and
she also drew a link between this and his relationship with his former
financial advisor Schabir Shaik.
DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip, who asked the parliamentary question on
the budget of the spousal office, said the state should make regulations to
determine how much should be spent on the family of a polygamous president.
Motshekga said it seemed the DA had not submitted the question for the purposes
of exercising oversight but to “mock and belittle the culture of the President”.
Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane said the budget had gone up from R8
million in 2008/09 to R15 million this financial year.
Chabane said some of the expenses in the spousal office include personal
support staff - secretary and researcher - domestic air travel and
accommodation and international air travel and accommodation for official
visits abroad approved by the president Motshekga defended the allocation to
the spousal office, saying this was consistent with what was allocated to
spouses of former heads of state.
“South Africans have closed the curtain on the era when our people were
refused to practice their cultures as they were deemed backwards and
uncivilised…we cannot allow Zille to take us back to the era that was
repulsive, ugly and terrifying by consistently mocking the cultural practices
of our people,” he said.
2.4 ANC wants action on petrol bombers
Allies call on cops to hunt down BRT driver's attackers
By NKOSANA LEKOTJOLO and SALLY EVANS, TIMESLIVE, 18 March 2010
The ANC and its allies in Gauteng have called on the police to "hunt down" those behind an attack on a bus rapid transit system bus driver.
Dumisani Mazibuko, 50, a BRT driver from Chiawelo, Soweto, woke to find his house had been petrol bombed. The attack is believed to be linked to this week's taxi strikes.
The ruling party, the SA Communist Party and trade union federation Cosatu yesterday condemned the violent protests by taxi operators earlier in the week.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, David Makhura, the ANC Gauteng secretary, described those behind the attack as "thugs and criminals".
"[They] must be arrested. They belong in jail. The police and law agencies must hunt down these perpetrators."
The police have yet to make arrests linked to the attack.
Makhura also condemned violence by taxi drivers during Monday and Tuesday's strike, in which dozens of drivers were arrested.
"We are not going to be intimidated by the taxi drivers simply because they can blockade the highway and threaten to protest during the World Cup.
"There is no one who can hold the country to ransom," he said.
In another briefing, the SA National Taxi Council said that the taxi industry had been sidelined by local government and this had fuelled frustrations.
"If the government decides to exclude us like they are doing now, we will not fold [our] arms," Santaco's secretary-general, Philip Taaibosch, said in Pretoria yesterday.
Though Santaco "strongly condemned the "violent activities" in Johannesburg, "it is ironic ... that the government and, in particular, the City of Johannesburg, have quickly forgotten that it is its breach of the agreement, as entailed in the National Joint Working Group, that has brewed the strike in Joburg."
He added: "We don't have complete confidence in the person running BRT.
"The Deputy Minister of Transport, Jeremy Cronin, has failed us many times over.
"He has not said anything good about us and he always attacks Santaco."
He said Sanco's national executive council would meet soon to "look into the issues and try to resolve this".
The council said the problem of exclusion was as widespread as Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
About 70 taxi drivers have been arrested in Johannesburg since Saturday, and at least 150 were arrested in Port Elizabeth this week.
2.5 MPs praise the president's hotline
By DIEKETSENG MALEKE, TIMESLIVE, 18 March 2010
A multi-party parliamentary delegation took a tour of the presidential hotline's call centre at President Zuma's invitation.
Led by ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga, the 11 MPs - from parties including the African Christian Democratic Party, the Congress of the People and the Pan African Congress - were shown how it all worked.
On Friday, Zuma took his Cabinet to task at an ANC national executive committee meeting, saying that he had written to ministers and premiers to ask why many of them were not responding to his requests for progress on dealing with complaints reported to his hotline. The only ones to respond were Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Western Cape Premier and DA leader Helen Zille.
Motshekga said that when Zuma announced his plan to launch a complaints line, MPs did not think it would materialise so soon and lauded the centre's work.
PAC president Letlapa Mphahlele said the call centre had much room for improvement.
"There are shortcomings in the centre which are not to be blamed on the staff. They are understaffed, working at 50% capacity," he said.
He said that if complaints were made about corruption, there was nothing the centre staff could do other than pass the complaint to the relevant department.
Zuma launched the centre in October and it now has 20 phone operators who work intwo shifts a day.
SA Information Technology Agency chairman Zodwa Manase said: "The initial budget was R5-million. Now we are sitting at R10-million.
"The budget is with [government] departments and Parliament. We are currently running the hotline on as little as we can. As soon as we can get more budget, the more people we can assist."
2.6 Malema scoffs at complaints
By NKOSANA LEKOTJOLO, TIMES LIVE, 18 March 2010
ANC Youth League president Julius Malema has shrugged off a complaint by journalists about the conduct of his spokesman, describing the complainants as "a mob of political journalists" and "millionaire journalists".
Malema defended the league's spokesman, Floyd Shivambu, who has been accused of trying to intimidate reporters by threatening to go public with private information that he claims would embarrass them.
"The ANC Youth League received a complaint written by a mob of political journalists who appear to be a nameless concerned group,'' Malema said. ''The complaint is based on their immature characterisation as bullying by the ANC Youth League leadership, in particular . Shivambu.
''The mob of journalists has made various allegations that the leadership of the ANCYL has threatened to expose their private information and will consequently result in threatening freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution.
''In their statement, the mob raises false alarms in response to a genuine case of alleged tax evasion and money laundering by [a journalist].''
Malema said the youth league would not retreat from its programme "to expose the possible corruption and tax fraud of any person in South Africa".
Journalists from several media outlets, including The Times,Sunday Times, Business Day, City Press, e.news and Eyewitness News , Media24 and Independent Newspapers demanded that Shivambu apologise for his threats and explain how he got the information he claims to have, and whether state resources were used.
Allegations were first made against journalists at a press conference called by the youth league two weeks ago to discuss the controversy around Malema's personal assets.
2.7 ANC: Zille a cultural chauvinist
NEWS24, 17 March 2010
Cape
Town - ANC chief whip Mathole
Motshekga on Wednesday accused DA leader Helen Zille of cultural
chauvinism for criticising the cost of President Jacob Zuma's family to the
state.
"The DA leader Helen Zille's
criticism of the size of the president's family and that it costs the state
'exorbitantly' is distasteful and demonstrates cultural intolerance of the
worst kind," Motshekga's office said.
"A large family, according to Zille, makes corruption almost inevitable.
This kind of condescending attitude has no place in a democratic South
Africa."
The presidency on Tuesday revealed in response to a parliamentary question by
the DA that its budget for spousal support had nearly doubled to R15.5m since
Zuma took power.
Zille said the president's polygamy was costing the taxpayer dearly and drew a
link between his domestic obligations and his relationship with former
financial advisor Schabir
Shaik, which the state termed "corrupt" during the
latter's fraud trial.
The chief whip's office said her comments suggested the DA had asked the
question so that it could "mock and belittle" Zuma.
"Those who have been making a lot of noise about the cost to the state of
the president's family are guilty of cultural chauvinism."
2.8 Now it’s shivambu - Malema’s sidekick tries to gag media |
|
Sowetan, 18 March 2010 |
|
|
ANC Youth League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu will not apologise for threatening to reveal personal details of the activities of journalists, and has vowed to continue doing so after a complaint lodged against him yesterday. “We will never apologise for telling the truth,” said Shivambu, who had not yet seen the complaint of intimidation filed by a group of journalists, but listened carefully while it was read to him over the phone. “As responsible citizens we have a responsibility to express our views. Freedom of expression applies to all people. “Freedom of expression does not mean that it is only the media that must write nonsensical allegations about political leaders. “We have got a right as well to express whatever views we deem relevant and truthful.” Shivambu said they would not be intimidated “by a mob of political journalists”. The journalists who lodged the complaint are: Business Day’s Karima Brown and Wilson Johwa; Independent Newspapers’ Moshoeshoe Monare, Gaye Davis, Xolani Mbanjwa and Carien du Plessis; Mail & Guardian’s Rapule Tabane and Mandy Rossouw; The Times/ Sunday Times’ Moipone Malefane, Sthembiso Msomi and Nkululeko Ncana; 702’s Stephen Grootes; City Press’ Moffet Mofokeng, Piet Rampedi, Dumisane Lubisi, Japhet Ncube and George Matlala; Media24’s Chandre Prince; and eNews’ Hajra Omarjee. A statement ANCYL leader Julius Malema later confirmed receipt of the complaint. In it he reiterated that the league would not “retreat from principle”. “The ANCYL maintains the view that there are journalists in South Africa who are corrupt.” Earlier, the journalists demanded Shivambu apologise publicly and explain how he got personal information he claims to have on journalists, and whether state resources were used. Malema said attempts to raise these concerns with media watchdog bodies such as the Press Ombudsmen had not yielded any results. Ombud Joe Thloloe confirmed he was considering several complaints against various newspapers lodged by the league, but that the processes were yet to be finalised. Thloloe said the first complaint was submitted on January 20, and the deputy ombudsman was in the process of writing the decision. A second complaint was submitted on March 5 and they were awaiting the response from the newspaper. “The system is fair to all the parties and we give them a chance to respond to all the allegations,” Thloloe said. – Sapa |
|
2.9 COPE brings no-confidence motion today |
|
WYNDHAM HARTLEY, Business Day, 18 March 2010 |
|
CAPE TOWN — The African National Congress (ANC) in Parliament will today allow the Congress of the People (COPE) to bring a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma to the floor of the National Assembly, but has warned it would mount a counter motion of full confidence in the president.
Very few opposition motions ever see the light of day following notice of the motion being given. They end up at the bottom of the order paper and eventually fall away. Approval for a motion of no confidence in the president is unprecedented.
COPE has been agitating for a no- confidence motion as a result of the controversies surrounding the president in the period leading up to the state of the nation address early last month. Yesterday a statement from ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga said that the ANC would use the COPE motion later today as an opportunity “to table a counter motion, which would ensure that Parliament expresses its full confidence in the capable leadership of President Jacob Zuma”.
“We have no doubt whatsoever that the president has, in line with his responsibilities outlined in chapter 5 of the constitution, executed effectively his responsibilities as head of state. This was even confirmed by various independent rating agencies since he took office in May last year, which show the people’s support in the leadership of President Zuma.
“It is really regrettable, if not embarrassing, that the only time that COPE get to be reported in the media in relation to its presence in Parliament is when they disrupt the formal proceedings of the National Assembly through publicity-seeking charades. The party’s conspicuous absence on serious matters of national importance since coming to Parliament has in the past even put its MPs, particularly its leaders, in serious trouble with its rank and file members, including members of its youth desk,” Motshekga said.
This was a clear reference to a recent incident when the COPE caucus walked out of the house following the ejection of its MP Mluleki George for failing to accept a ruling from the deputy speaker.
Motshekga went on to say that after more than 10 months in Parliament, COPE had nothing to show the electorate for its presence in the House “besides cheap stunts to grab media attention”.
He accused the party of surviving on the coattails of the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA). “It is a slap in the face of the little percentage of the electorate that put COPE into this institution that the party today finds itself unable to stand on its own — preferring to ride on the wave of the DA’s public profile every time an important matter arises”.
He said the motion served only to divert Parliament from important issues facing the nation. The motion by COPE is motivated more by an institutionalised hatred for the president than for their love for the country.
“We wish to appeal to COPE to start taking its role in Parliament seriously and begin engaging substantively and qualitatively on issues of national importance, rather than treating this august House like a circus show,” he concluded.
2.10 President goes on image offensive |
|
Wilson Johwa, Business Day, 18 March 2010 |
|
IT IS often said that a week is a long time in politics and seldom has this been more true than in the case of President Jacob Zuma .
Clearly on the comeback trail, Zuma this week blitzed several hot spots and announced in vintage African National Congress (ANC) style that he was available to serve his party, and by extension the country, for a second term.
Zuma’s very public posture since Friday suggests he is fighting back and keen to reclaim his turf in the battle of perception around his suitability for office.
This came into question after the disclosure that he had had a child out of wedlock with the daughter of a long-time associate, and after a flat, uninspiring state of the nation address that failed to soothe nerves and address expectations.
Amid calls to change his advisers and fire his communications team, the Zuma machine kicked into gear, albeit off the back foot.
Yesterday, the wild cheers that greeted Zuma at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital were a far cry from the misgivings that produced his embattled public persona barely a month ago.
The welcome in Soweto must have convinced his advisers their latest efforts to rebrand the president are already bearing fruit.
On Friday, he wowed the crowds in downtown Pretoria on a walk about at Marabastad. Yesterday, a confident Zuma shook hands with patients and hospital staff who mobbed him in a rowdy welcome.
Zuma praised management at the hospital, saying it was no longer the place where one always left depressed. Rehabilitation of the hospital was a reflection of the seriousness with which his administration regarded health.
“If this is not delivery, I don’t know what delivery is,” he said.
Zuma’s Baragwanath visit was one of a series of tours of various places, which the Presidency calls “monitoring and evaluation visits”, due over the next three weeks.
The timing could not be more appropriate. Neither is it accidental. Zuma’s public interaction with communities in distress is a perfect fit for a president who connects easily with ordinary folk — a strength of his Presidency that nosedived after the negative publicity over his parlous private life.
The announcement yesterday that Zizi Kodwa, his long-time ANC media aide, had been appointed as a communications adviser in the Presidency is further evidence of a revived spin machine that is taking nothing for granted. Kodwa has been central to refashioning the battered public image of a president who has appeared more preoccupied with bedroom politics than matters of state.
This week, the spin machine went into overdrive, ensuring that Zuma hogged the headlines on key policy matters, including revamping the state and plans for troubled state-owned enterprises.
Zuma also reasserted his leadership in a fractious ANC, lashing out at inefficient ministers and putting paid to notions that he was unfit for public office and would not last his term. Zuma’s deliberate message in interviews with the media, that he would not “defy” the ANC should its branches nominate him for a second term, conveyed a clear message that he was far from ready to give up his presidency and also scuttled suggestions of his being a lame duck.
The ANC’s decision to read the riot act to its squabbling brood, including Julius Malema, allowed Zuma to dispel criticism he was too weak to act against the youth leader.
His two-and-a-half-day visit to Zimbabwe also presents an opportunity to showcase him as an ace negotiator, while putting his family woes firmly behind him.
Zuma’s heavy political programme allows his spin machine to play to his obvious strengths. However, the fact that many of Zuma’s troubles are his own doing places limitations on any effort, no matter how well orchestrated, to spin him into an effective and decisive president. His image minders can only work with the reality that Zuma is a fallible human being who happens to hold high office.
Their best recipe is to keep him focus ed on matters of state, to keep his private life private, and to rise to the challenge of mediating the inevitable faux pas .