PART 3 OF 3: A LOOK AT JACOB ZUMA'S CABINET

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 PRETORIA 001029 SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM ASEC SF PGOV SUBJECT: PART 3 OF 3: A LOOK AT JACOB ZUMA'S CABINET REF: PRETORIA 000942 PRETORIA 00001029 001.2 OF 006 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) President Jacob Zuma finalized his Cabinet appointments on May 10, modifying several existing ministries and creating a few new ones. Below are short biographies for each of the newly appointed ministers and deputies. This is the third of three cables looking at each of the Cabinet appointees. End Summary. -------------- Cabinet Appointees -------------- ¶2. (U) Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan served as Health Minister under former President Kgalema Motlanthe. Credited with changing the culture of the health ministry, Hogan also caused controversy when she spoke out without consulting the African National Congress (ANC) on the government's decision not to grant the Dalai Lama a visa. She previously served as a member of Parliament, where she played a leading role in numerous ad hoc committees and investigations. She chaired the portfolio committee on Finance from 1999 to 2004. She was instrumental in creating ANC structures in Gauteng and has been a member of Parliament since 1994. Concurrent with her appointment to the Health Ministry, Hogan acts as chairperson of the Standing Committee on the Auditor General. She is a member of the advisory board of the Amandla AIDS Fund, which was established by the non-profit organization Artists for a New South Africa in ¶2003. She joined the ANC in 1976 after the Soweto student uprising. In 1982, she became the first woman to be sentenced to treason in South Africa and began serving a 10-year sentence. She was released in 1990. Hogan was born in 1952 and enjoys reading. ¶3. (U) Deputy Public Enterprises Minister Enoch Godongwana had been rumored to be a frontrunner for the Deputy Finance Minister position, but did not receive the job when the SACP opposed the move. Godongwana advanced politically through the Eastern Cape provincial legislature -- which raises questions about his effectiveness because the province is widely seen as the most impoverished in the country. He served as a Minister in the Executive (MEC) for Finance in Eastern Cape in 2004 and served as an MEC for the Provincial Treasury, Economic Affairs, and Environment and Tourism from 1998 to 2004. Before 1994, Godongwana was National Secretary 
and Regional Secretary for the National Union of South African Mines, working his way up the union beginning in ¶1989. He holds a degree from the University of London and was born in 1957 in Eastern Cape. ¶4. (U) Public Services and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi has been a member of Parliament since 1999 and began serving in his current capacity under Motlanthe. A competent leader, Baloyi began his political career in the United Democratic Front and rose through the Limpopo legislature. He served as secretary of the ANC's Giyani branch and as secretary of the ANC's Northeast sub-region. In the 1990s, he was a member of the ANC's Limpopo Provincial Executive Committee and was the ANC's provincial spokesperson. ¶5. (U) Deputy Public Services and Administration Minister Roy Padayachie served as Deputy Minister of Communications from 2004 to 2009 and has a history of political involvement in KwaZulu Natal. He joined the ANC in 1972 and later became a United Democratic Front executive committee member and as a Qa United Democratic Front executive committee member and as a member of the ANC's KwaZulu Natal negotiating team at the Congress for a Democratic South Africa discussions. Professionally, Padayachie served as a formulations chemist at Plascon Evans Paints from 1974 to 1979, as a microbiologist at Reckitt and Colman from 1976 to 1979, and as a research chemist at Shell Chemical from 1979 to 1980. Before his appointment as a deputy minister, Padayachie was a consultant to small, medium, and micro enterprises on business development. He was educated at the University of Durban-Westville and the University of London. He was born in 1950. ¶6. (U) Public Works Minister Geoffrey Doidge has extensive PRETORIA 00001029 002.2 OF 006 legislative experience. In addition to being Public Works Minister, Doidge is chairman of the Committee of Chairpersons in Parliament, a member of the National Assembly Rules Committee, a member of the Joint Rules Committee, a member of the National Assembly Program Committee, a member of the Joint Program Committee, a member of Parliament's Budget Forum, a member of the ANC Whips Committee since 1994, and a member of the ANC Governance Committee in Parliament. He has extensive experience in development work and local governance. He was a founding member of the ANC's Strategy Team as served as Deputy Chief Whip of the ANC from 1994 to ¶1999. His local government experience includes times as a member of the ANC Transkei regional executive from 1992-1995 and as a member of the Kokstad Local Affairs committee from 1992 to 1994. He is known for protecting staff members from abuse by fellow legislators. He was born on April 26, 1952 and is married. ¶7. (U) Deputy Public Works Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu is a motivational speaker, researcher, writer, and consultant. Visually impaired, Bogopane-Zulu has overcome enormous odds in her rise as a national figure and effectively used her sway within South Africa's community of citizens with disabilities to further union efforts. Bogopane-Zulu has been in Parliament since 1999 and served on the Portfolio Committee for Social Development beginning in ¶1999. She currently is the national trainer for "Public Service South Africa." During her parliamentary career, she also has served as National Public Prosecutor, National Public Protector, and National Auditor General. Before her deployment to Parliament, Bogopane-Zulu was the National Coordinator for Disabled People South Africa from 1996 to 1999 and National Coordinator for Disabled Women's Development Program from 1996 to 1999. She was involved in efforts to negotiate the convention on the rights and dignity of disabled people at the United Nations. Bogopane-Zulu is married with three children. ¶8. (U) Rural Development and Land Affairs Minister Gugile Nkwinti has long been involved in Eastern Cape politics. Farmers are thrilled that Zuma has created two ministries devoted to agriculture -- one headed by Joemat-Peterson and this ministry headed by Nkwinti. He is said to "understand commercial farming very well." Nkwinti served as an MEC for Local Government and Housing from 2004 until recently and was an MEC for Housing, Local Government, and Traditional Affairs from 1999 to 2004. From 1994 to 1999, he was speaker of the Eastern Cape legislature. He began his political career in the 1980s, serving as a regional executive committee member for the United Democratic Front -- he rose to the level of National Convener -- and later as a regional treasurer for the movement before using his connections to rise in the ANC. In 1990, he was the regional secretary for the ANC in Eastern Cape. He was born 1948, received a Bachelors degree from the University of South Africa, and enjoys reading. ¶9. (U) Deputy Rural Development and Land Affairs Minister Joe Phaahla rose to prominence as a student through the Azanian People's Organization. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the South African Sports Commission. In QExecutive Officer of the South African Sports Commission. In the Sports Commission office, Phaahla had a key role as Director General of South Africa's 2010 bid and advised both Mbeki and Motlanthe on the country's preparations for the World Cup. He has longstanding ties to the ANC's Limpopo provincial structures. Phaala challenged former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi for control of the province in 2005 and was quickly deployed for politically attacking one of Mbeki's chief allies. Many see Phaala's ministerial appointment as a way to reward him for supporting Zuma at the 2007 ruling party congress. ¶10. (U) Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor previously was Minister of Education from 2004 to 2009. From 1999 to 2004, she was chair of the National Council of Provinces. She has been a member of Parliament since 1994 and served as Deputy Chief Whip for the ANC at one point during the 1990s. She has a lengthy track record of positions and leadership roles involving the issue of education. She rose through the Taung College of Education's English Department throughout the 1980s and worked at the University of Cape Town in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She was executive director of the Desmond Tutu Educational Trust from 1993 to 1994 and was Chancellor of the Cape PRETORIA 00001029 003.2 OF 006 Techikon in 2000. She holds degrees from the University of Stellenbosch, the University of Botswana, and the University of London. She is married. Pandor was born in 1953. ¶11. (U) Deputy Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom has held this position since 2004. He has been an ANC member of Parliament since 1999 and served as Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs from 1994 to 1999. He is a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee and a Board Director for the Land and Agricultural Policy Centre. He served in the South African military in the 1970s and then worked as a businessman. He was first arrested during a candlelight vigil at John Vorster Square Police Headquarters in Johannesburg in 1976 and then arrested again in 1983, for which he spent nine months in jail for high treason. From 1990 to 1994, Hanekom worked as a coordinator for the ANC's Land and Agricultural desk. He was born in 1953 in Cape Town and is married. ¶12. (U) Social Development Minister Edna Molewa has long been active in Northwest ANC politics. From 2004 to 2009, she served as the province's premier. She has been a member of the ANC Women's League in the Northwest since 2003 and, until recently, was the chair of the Women's League in the province. She has been a member of the province's ANC national executive committee since 1996. She was first deployed to Parliament in 1994 and served there until 1996 -- she was the first woman chair of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry. She was a teacher in the 1970s before going underground to work for the ANC during the 1980s. She later chaired a branch of the South African Commercial, Catering, and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) and rose to become the Deputy of SACCAWU. She was born in 1957 and is married. ¶13. (U) Deputy Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini has served as Secretary General of the ANC Women's League since 2003 and served as Deputy Secretary General of the League from 1997 to 2003. She joined the ANC Women's League Executive Committee in 1991 and "literally grew up in the organization." She lost a bitter power struggle last year against new Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga for the presidency of the ANC Women's League. She was a key reason why Zuma won support from the women's body ahead of the ruling party's congress in December 2007. There is not a lot of information available on Dlamini, but she reportedly benefited heavily during the "Travelgate" scandal -- where MPs misused government funds while on official business -- in the early 2000s and was forced to resign from Parliament. ¶14. (U) Sport and Recreation Minister Makenkesi Stofile has served in his current capacity since 2004. He has been chair of the ANC in Eastern Cape since 1996 and a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee since 1990. He has served in a number of senior positions within the party, including: ANC Internal Leadership Core (1990-1991),ANC Regional Chair (1990-1991),ANC Treasurer General (1995-1997),and Premier of Eastern Cape (1997-2004). A powerful political figure, with connections to nearly every single facet of the South African liberation movement, Stofile played a key role in helping the SAG win the hosting of the 2010 World Cup and led Qhelping the SAG win the hosting of the 2010 World Cup and led successful protests to prevent a tour by the New Zealand rugby team in 1984. From 1969 to 1994, Stofile was the province's national sports administrator and he coached junior rugby and cricket from 1965 to 1994. He has numerous undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Fort Hare and holds a Masters degree from Princeton University. Stofile was born in 1944, is married, and enjoys watching sports. ¶15. (U) Deputy Sport and Recreation Minister Gert Oosthuizen was formerly in the New National Party (NNP) and has served in his current capacity since 2004. He was self-employed during the 1980s following a stint in the South African Air Force. He was first elected to Parliament in 1987 and remained in the legislature following the 1994 election. He served as a Whip in Parliament from 1989 to 1999, joining the ANC in 2000. He served as a member of the ANC's Strategy Committee in Parliament from 2001 to 2004. He also served on the Joint Defense Committee, the Portfolio Committee on Defense, and the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services from 2001 to 2004. He was born in 1957 and enjoys watching sports. PRETORIA 00001029 004.2 OF 006 ¶16. (U) State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele was formerly Intelligence Minister under the previous ministry alignment. (Note: The State Security ministry was formerly the Intelligence ministry. End Note.) Cwele has been a member of Parliament since 1994. He has served as a member of the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee in KwaZulu Natal since ¶1990. Throughout his legislative career, he has served on the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, as a member of the Senate of the National Council of Provinces from 1994 to 1999, and as chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Services. He served in various underground capacities for the ANC from 1984 to 1990. He was known as one of the few leaders in Parliament willing to speak out against some of Mbeki's decisions. He is a strong Zuma supporter, and was credited with ensuring Mbeki's bid for a third term was defeated at Polokwane. Cwele, who has a good grasp of the intelligence system, led the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to recommend that former Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy be charged for allowing the Scorpions to gather intelligence that culminated in the controversial Browse Mole report. The report linked ANC President Jacob Zuma to a coup plot against Mbeki. He denied a request in 2008 by the Consul General in Durban to discuss political developments. ¶17. (U) Tourism Minister Martinus van Schalkwyk has been a member of Parliament since 1990 and caused controversy when he merged the NNP with the ANC in the early 2000s. Van Schalkwyk served as premier of Western Cape from 2002 to 2004 and previously was Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism from 2004 to 2009. Most pundits say he has a better grasp of South Africa's tourism industry than he did of environmental affairs -- he spent most of his previous tenure focused on building South African tourism. He was educated at the Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) and is married. He was born in 1959. ¶18. (U) Deputy Tourism Minister Thozile Xasa was a former MEC for Local Government in Eastern Cape before joining Parliament in 2009. There is not much information available on Xasa. Post will continue looking for relevant biographical notes. ¶19. (U) Trade and Industry Minister Robert Davies began his political activism in the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP) while living in Mozambique. He is currently on the ANC's National Executive Committee and the Central Committee of the SACP. He returned to South Africa in 1990 and worked in the Department of Economic Policy at Luthuli House. He became a member of Parliament in 1994 and undertook a variety of policy research projects. He has led South African delegations to World Trade Organization summits in Seattle, Doha, Cancun, and Hong Kong. He holds degrees from the University of Sussex, and the University of South Hampton. He was born in 1948 and is divorced. ¶20. (U) Deputy Trade and Industry Ministers Thandi Tobias and Maria Ntuli bring unique skills to their shared ministry. Tobias joined Parliament in 2004 and served on various committees throughout her tenure. She served on the Defense Committee, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and the Committee of Public Works. Ntuli comes from the ANC Women's QCommittee of Public Works. Ntuli comes from the ANC Women's League and served in Parliament on several committees. Some of the committees on which she served include the Trade and Industry Committee and the Agricultural and Land Affairs Committee. She hails from a royal family. ¶21. (U) Transport Minister Sbusiso Ndebele was until recently the Premier of KwaZulu Natal. (Note: Much of the following information comes from the Consulate in Durban. End Note.) Ndebele held the position of ANC provincial leader for 10 years before stepping down last year. Ndebele was born in 1948. He received his primary school education in Melmoth (Northern Zululand) and matriculated in 1968 at Eshongwe High School. He went on to study Library Science at the University of Zululand and graduated in 1972. He received a BA in International Politics and African Politics at the University of South Africa from 1982-1983; he also qualified for the BA Honors majoring in Development Administration and Politics. During his time at university, Ndebele was actively involved in the University Christian Movement and later joined student political structures including the South African Student Organization (SASO). In 1974, he joined the PRETORIA 00001029 005.2 OF 006 ANC underground and went to exile in Swaziland. He was arrested for ANC activities in May 1976 and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment at Robben Island. After his release, he was employed by the University of Natal as the researcher at the Town & Regional Planning Department. He was elected as the Regional Secretary of the ANC Southern Natal Regional which is now known as eThekwini. Ndebele served in the Education and Development Trust during the 1980s. ¶22. (SBU) Ndebele was the Minister of Transport in KwaZulu Natal for 10 years and in 2004 became the Premier of the province. (Durban Comment: Ndebele is a long standing leader of the ANC in KZN and played a major role in the stabilization of the province that has long been ravaged by political violence and intolerance. He beat his close rival for the ANC leadership, Zweli Mkhize, twice in successive conferences. However, with the fall-out between Mbeki and Zuma, Ndebele, an Mbeki appointee, lost support and control of the party in the province. After the 2007 ANC national conference in Polokwane, during which Zuma defeated Mbeki for the presidency of the ANC, Ndebele announced that he would not compete for the position of provincial leader. Ndebele remained in his position as the Premier of KZN but was seen as a lame duck premier. In the last meeting with the CG and Pol/Econ Assistant in 2008, Ndebele indicated his desire to quit provincial politics and move to national assembly after the 2009 general elections. Ndebele is not that popular with grassroots ANC members in the province. He is considered to be a combative and shrewd leader. Like Mbeki, he is an African Renaissance intellectual and can come across as standoffish. Ndebele has not been accessible to the consulate in Durban. Although the consulate had good relations with staff in his office, it took more than two years for him to agree to formally meet with the CG. His only interaction with the last ambassador was a 10-15 minute courtesy call in his office by Ambassador Bost. One of Ndebele's personal assistants told the Pol/Econ Assistant that an incident at a U.S. airport during which he was subjected to a thorough body search by airport security and immigration officials is the cause of his negative attitude. End Comment.) ¶23. (U) Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin is a long time, outspoken member of the SACP and the ANC. He has served in Parliament since 1999 as an ANC member, and has been on the ANC's National Executive Committee since 1991. He worked in the SACP's propaganda unit during the 1970s, which eventually drew the attention of the apartheid government. Cronin was arrested and served seven years in prison. After he was released from prison, he worked for the United Democratic Front. His work with that organization, however, raised the ire of the apartheid government. He fled South Africa and settled in London and then Zambia, where he worked with Joe Slovo. Cronin frequently pens articles for the major South African newspapers and has been an outspoken critic of the Zimbabwean Government. He was born in 1949. He is remarried; his first wife died of a brain tumor while Cronin served his seven-year prison sentence. ¶24. (U) Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Q24. (U) Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica served as Minister of Minerals and Energy from 2006 to 2009. She is one of the most seasoned ministers in Zuma's Cabinet; before serving in the Minerals and Energy ministry, she served as Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry from 2004 to 2006. She was Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture from 2003 to 2004. A member of Parliament since 1994, she was an ANC Whip from 1994 to 1999. As an MP, Sonjica served on the Portfolio Committees for Finance, Trade and Industry, and Water Affairs and Forestry. She chaired the Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry. Hailing from Eastern Cape, Sonjica became politically active during the late 1970s and eventually joined the United Democratic Front and built upon her trade union background. She was a member of the South African Democratic Teachers Union from its inception. She is a long time member of the ANC Women's League and helped build support for Zuma's bid as party leader both in Eastern Cape and in the Women's League. She holds degrees from several universities. She was born in 1950 and is single. ¶25. (U) Deputy Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Rejoice Mabhudafhasi previously served as Deputy Minister for Environmental Affairs and Tourism from 1999 to 2009. She has been a member of Parliament since 1994 and serves on the PRETORIA 00001029 006.2 OF 006 ANC's National Executive Committee. She has a long history of activism in Limpopo and once served as National Treasurer of the National Education Health and Allied Union (1992-1994). ¶26. (U) Women, Youth, and People with Disabilities Minister Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya is relatively unknown. One prominent gender rights scholar told Econoff that she "had never heard of Mayende-Sibiya." She was elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee at the party's 2007 congress. She has served as the leader of the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) since 2004. She served as NEHAWU's Deputy President from 1998 to 2004. She has a long history of trade union activism, dating to the mid-1980s. She has played several roles both within the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the SACP and worked as a provincial gender coordinator in KwaZulu Natal under Zuma when he was premier. LA LIME