Dlamini-Zuma faces questions, after pushing jobs for ‘ANC cadres’

Addressing the ANC’s OR Tambo School of Leadership at the weekend, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma may have endured another foot-in-mouth moment. The veteran politician has reportedly offered her support to the continuation of ‘cadre deployment’.

What is cadre deployment?

NDZ reportedly told the crowd that municipalities looking to fill certain vacancies must “appoint the right cadres for the job”. That’s a problematic statement to make, given that cadre deployment – which essentially allows underperforming politicians the chance to work elsewhere without recrimination – is seen as something of a blight upon the ANC’s reputation.

Politicians who may have been dismissed from other roles for their questionable behaviour can find themselves ‘recycled’ into another position. The likes of Bathabile Dlamini and Malusi Gigaba prove that many high-profile public servants can rely on the safety net of cadre deployment to work elsewhere in the party, despite what has gone before – and that is why the opposition is unhappy with Dlamini-Zuma.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to be held accountable in Parliament

DA Shadow Deputy Minister for COGTA, Cilliers Brink, has raised the issue with Parliament. He says the DA will register their grievances with the National Assembly, through the submission of a written question.

“Cadres are in fact responsible for the decline of municipalities, and their ‘deployment’ should be abolished altogether. The policy of cadre deployment enjoins ANC politicians to reserve technical and otherwise non-political jobs in state institutions for ANC members. There can be no ‘right cadre’, only a ‘right candidate’.”

“It’s a means of gaining control over society in general – what the ANC calls ‘hegemony’ – and using public resources to maintain control. Cadre deployment is unconstitutional for the goal of a capable state, demolishing constitutional walls between party and state, destroying the government’s ability to deliver service.”

Cilliers Brink, DA Shadow Deputy Minister for COGTA