'Bloated Cabinet can deliver'
2009-05-19 22:13
Johannesburg - The newly enlarged Cabinet appointed by President Jacob Zuma has a chance to prove that size does matter, said United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa on Tuesday.
"On paper it might look like a bloated bureaucracy, but if it improves service delivery we will not fault President Zuma," he said in a speech prepared for delivery at the Business Development Forum in Midrand.
"We can see that he [Zuma] has tried to address some of the concerns that people have had about the clustering of certain departments...
"We now see for instance the splitting of Tourism from Environment. He appears to have heeded the calls of many commentators."
Holomisa said he believed the Cabinet appointments indicated that Zuma had "rewarded his lieutenants".
'New princes and princesses'
"Whether they will be competent in running a government remains to be seen... These newly-crowned princes and princesses should not be allowed to behave like their predecessors - by usurping the powers of the Accounting Officers (ie DGs) to issue political directives on matters such as where tenders should be awarded."
He said the president, the public service commission and to some extent the parliamentary committee on public service should be involved in these appointments instead.
Holomisa said the outgoing government was too reliant on "spin-doctors and spokespersons".
"At times South Africans were longing for direct communication from the president or (the) relevant minister, but they hardly ever got that, particularly when there were violent incidents in places such as Khutsong.
"The new executive will have to bring a new style of leadership, decisiveness and discipline to halt the current slide into lawlessness we have been witnessing."
Power more centralised in presidency
He said a lack of experience among some ministers might mean they took "a long time" to get off the ground.
"This is especially true where new departments have to be launched."
Holomisa also said power appeared to becoming even more centralised at the presidency.
"There is a definite conglomeration of people in the Union Buildings.
"There are two powerful new ministers in the presidency and rumours that other ministers may also be shifted there.
"The Union Buildings seem to be gearing up to take on more power and influence than ever before."
- SAPA