Minister vs. Minister
In 1961 a wordless black and white comic strip titled Spy vs. Spy debuted on the pages of Mad Magazine. Created by Cuban national, Antonio Prohias, the strip was symbolic of the Cold War that raged between Russia and the United States at the time. Prohias
Setting aside issues of colour, the Spy vs. Spy concept appears to be gaining footholds in South Africa’s political landscape. First we had ex-President Thabo Mbeki battling the unstoppable Jacob Zuma. Next we had Nathi Mthethwa (the minister of safety and security) facing off against his deputy, Fikile Mbalula. And the latest spat is between Tokyo Sexwale (the incoming minister of human settlements) and Lindiwe Sisulu (the current minister of defence and military veterans and outgoing minister of housing). Mbeki vs. Zuma – Mthethwa vs. Mbalula – Sexwale vs. Sisulu – Minister vs. Minister! Where will it end?
The ‘no blame’ culture wins – again!
If recent media reports are anything to go by, Sexwale is extremely critical of the department of housing’s performance under Sisulu’s watch. His first broadside was to publicise the shocking state of the country’s various Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing projects. In a series of press conferences he revealed it would cost South Africa’s taxpayers near on R1.3bn to rebuild substandard RDP housing. In a scathing statement to community members in the Eastern Cape, Sexwale accused contractors who built inferior RDP houses of “stealing” money. He promised to blacklist companies that had delivered inferior product – to close these companies down – and send their management to jail.
His second ‘attack’ followed a question and answer session in Parliament. It emerged the department of housing (under Sisulu’s guidance) spent R22m on a series of Sarafina-like plays. Sexwale was so incensed by this wasteful expenditure that he reportedly told department staff: “This sort of expenditure will not happen on my watch!” The play wasn’t the only ‘problem’ either. During the same Q & A session it emerged the human settlements department had overspent its marketing budget by some R40m. Butch Steyn, Democratic Allowance spokesperson on human settlements said the official opposition would take the matter further. “We’re asking that the Auditor General investigate this whole process – and determine whether it was in fact necessary to spend this sort of money,” said Steyn.
Sisulu was having none of it. In an article in the Cape Times she alleged that Sexwale hadn’t come up with any new programmes (since April 2009 we assume) and had claimed credit for many initiatives she had introduced while housing minister. The excuse for her department’s costly ‘marketing’ efforts was a tongue-in-cheek jibe. She told the Cape Times that “he [Sexwale] would discover that when you implement a new plan and a housing project you need to communicate with all stakeholders.”
No petty rivalry here?
There were other battles on the boil too. The press picked up on a “petty rivalry” between Mthethwa and Mbalula after rumours circulated that the minister had put pressure on his deputy to cancel a briefing with the National Press Club. These rumours were quickly denied. But there are deeper issues at the centre of the dispute… An article first published in the Pretoria News suggests “the root of the turf war lies with their political ambitions.” The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) apparently fancies Mbalula (an ex-youth league president) as the senior of the two. And there are some in the league who back him as future ANC secretary-general. And it doesn’t end there.
The ANCYL has become increasingly vocal since Zuma came to power. The movement’s firebrand leader Julius Malema spends as much time insulting opposition politicians, such as the DA’s Helen Zille, as he does prominent individuals in the ruling party and its alliance. He ridiculed previous minister of education, Naledi Pandor, for her “fake” accent. And most recently referred to the respected SACP secretary-general, Jeremy Cronin, as a “white messiah.”
What power struggle?
A top spy never spills the beans. The silent spies in Prohias’ cartoon would never admit to battling one another – just as Russia and the United States enjoyed cordial relations through the 1980s! It should come as no surprise that Sexwale and Sisulu have no problems either. A day or two after the media-fuelled dispute reached its peak the two poured water on the rumours. In a joint statement their respective ministries declared they had a great working relationship...
“Ministers Sisulu and Sexwale are surprised and taken aback at complete misinterpretations of the state of their working relationship – and have vowed not to let distortions drive them apart.” It continues: “The ministers have great respect for each other and continuously engage each other in a robust and direct way on issues of governance and other matters.” Mthethwa and Mbalula quickly dispelled rumours of a rift too. The official line: “Both the minister and his deputy enjoy a healthy, professional working relationship with clear areas of responsibilities…” Sound familiar? Whether this spin-doctoring is enough to heal the rift remains to be seen.
Editor’s thoughts: Whenever rumours surface of rifts between higher-ups in the ruling party (or one of its allies) the organisations press machinery kicks into top gear to dispel them. In recent weeks it has become clear the alliance partners have different views in a number of critical areas, including economic policy and land reform. Do you think the dramatic Zuma / Mbeki clash will be the last battle for leadership in the African National Congress? Add your comments below, or send them to gareth@fanews.co.za
