ANC: Show us the deadwood
2007-08-14 18:35
Johannesburg - The spokesperson for the African National Congress caucus, Moloto Mothapo, has challenged the general-secretary of the Congress of SA Trade Unions, Zwelinzima Vavi on Tuesday to show them the "deadwood" ministers in government.
Mothapo was responding to a statement Vavi made over the weekend.
In his weekend address to the Congress of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union, Vavi said some ministers were "deadwoods who remain untouchable", and that some were "dying on duty".
Mothapo said: Caucus challenges Vavi to point out any 'untouchable deadwood' within cabinet and provide evidence to any dereliction of duty by any deceased or current serving minister."
Mothapo said the ANC caucus wanted to discourage "reckless and insensitive" language when people expressed opinions on government leaders.
"Inflammatory statements and media-catching phrases in public addresses might be the recipe for increased press coverage. It is however equally advisable that discretion be applied accordingly."
Vavi's statement was prompted by the sacking of deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge by President Thabo Mbeki last week.
While Cosatu retracted its secretary-general's remarks on ministers who died on duty, the federation said it was still of the view that there was some "deadwood" in Mbeki's cabinet.
"Cosatu wishes to place on record however that there are some ministers who are not performing to that high standard and that part of the statement will not be withdrawn," the union said.
The ANC caucus in March condemned a statement attributed to Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard regarding the health of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
Kohler-Barnard had called on Mbeki to remove Tshabalala-Msimang "before she dies there, like other ministers who died on duty".
The ANC pointed out that since 1994, several ministers died during their tenure - Joe Slovo in 1995, Steve Tshwete in 2002, Dullah Omar in 2004 and Stella Sigcau in 2006.
- SAPA