Unions praise Zuma action

2011-10-25 19:39

Johannesburg - Trade unions have praised President Jacob Zuma for sacking Local Government Minister Sicelo Shiceka and Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde.

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Tuesday that Zuma showed "decisive leadership".

"It buries false alarm bells raised by unelected and bookish political commentators or analysts that President Zuma is indecisive," national spokesperson Castro Ngobese said in a statement.

The SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) said Zuma's decision was brave and showed true leadership.

"We expected nothing less from the president and he has displayed true leadership," spokesperson Tahir Sema said.

Other matters to deal with

Zuma announced a Cabinet reshuffle on Monday after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela concluded that the ministers had acted unlawfully.

He also suspended national police commissioner General Bheki Cele and announced that an inquiry would be held into the police building lease controversy.

The inquiry will be led by retired Constitutional Court Judge Yvonne Mokgoro, alongside advocates Terry Motau and Anthea Platt.

Ngobese said the "decisiveness" shown by Zuma should not be limited to a Cabinet reshuffle. It was also needed to deal with poverty, unemployment and inequalities.

Absent Shiceka

Numsa welcomed Cele's suspension but said it hoped this would not demoralise police officers, said Ngobese.

The union had called for him to be sacked ever since Madonsela's report was released.

"Workers would have never been able to co-operate with these ministers, knowing that they abused public funds," said Sema.

Local government was desperate for solutions to complex problems and Shiceka had been absent for too long, he said.

Zuma replaced Shiceka with Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi.
Communications Minister Roy Padayachie replaces Baloyi.

Deputy Minister for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Dina Pule takes over as communications minister.

Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Land Reform Thembelani (Thulas) Nxesi becomes the new minister of public works.

- SAPA