SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER AUGUST 9-AUGUST 15

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 001657 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV ASEC SF POL PAS ECON SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER AUGUST 9-AUGUST 15 PRETORIA 00001657 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) This was written in partnership with the Open Source Center's Pretoria Bureau. The newsletter is open to contributions from officers in the Embassy or in the Consulates who wish to highlight political trends. Contact Madeline Seidenstricker or Jonathan Smallridge for more information, or to make contributions. The newsletter also is available on the Political Section's blog, "A View from South Africa," found on intelink.gov. -------------- Domestic News -------------- Attempts to Address Ministerial Spending ¶2. (U) Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan has tabled a draft report that addresses public concerns over large expenditure by government ministers. The report was completed by a ministerial task team mandated to develop concrete proposals and guidelines that would ensure all spheres of government reduce wasteful expenditure and divert spending to new areas. The report calls for a reduction in the amount of press advertising bought by government bodies, and on spending on ministerial vehicles. The report also suggests that the travel budgets - especially international travels - by departments and ministers be cut down, from four officials to one official per trip. The task team consists of Gordhan, Minister of Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency Collins Chabane, and Minister for Public Service and Administration Richard Baloyi. (New24.com, August, 13, 2009) Manuel Calls for More Transparency in the MPC ¶3. (U) Minister in the National Planning Commission, Trevor Manuel, has asked for minutes of the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings to be published. He made the call as the MPC prepares to announce its decision on interest rates. Manuel first made the appeal a few years ago while he was still Finance Minister, in the interests of transparency. (SABCNEWS, August, 13, 2009) Call for Fresh Schabir Shaik Probe ¶4. (U) Questions have surfaced again about the conditions of Schabir Shaik's medical parole. This comes after he was allegedly seen driving around in Durban in his black BMW on Monday. Shaik, the former financial adviser to President Jacob Zuma, was released on medical parole after serving only two years and four months of a 15 year prison term for fraud and corruption. Shaik has denied reports that he was driving around in Durban. Correctional services officials also denied the allegations and said that they were confident that Shaik did not break his parole conditions. (NEWS24.com, August, 12,2009) SA to Build New Prisons ¶5. (U) South Africa wants to build seven new generation prisons to help ease chronic overcrowding in its jails. Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula reported on Thursday that the department of Correctional Services has designed new generation prisons. The new prisons are meant to facilitate rehabilitation, and differ from the old prisons which were primarily used to warehouse inmates. The minister said the Kimberley Correctional Centre, would be the country's first new generation prison and will be completed in January 2010. The prisons will be built at a cost estimated of R700-million; similar prisons will be built in Klerksdorp, Nigel, East London and Paarl by 2012. (The Star, August 13, 2009) Creating a Blue Print for Municipalities ¶6. (U) Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube announced that her department will undertake a comparative analysis of the state of municipalities in the country. This comes after Qof the state of municipalities in the country. This comes after reports that over 17 municipalities in Kwazulu- Natal are inefficient, with no sources of revenue and limited capacity to deliver services to their communities. The assessment also comes amid calls for the review of municipal functions. The minister hopes the study will produce "a blueprint" for an ideal municipality. (The Star, August 13, 2009) -------------- International News -------------- Motlanthe Goes to Zimbabwe ¶7. (U) Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe attended the funeral of the late Zimbabwean Vice-President Joseph Msika this week. President Zuma issued a condolence message, stating that the death of Msika was a painful loss to the people of Zimbabwe and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). (DFA briefing, August 10) SA Regrets Decision by Myanmar Authorities ¶8. (U) South Africa joined the international community in PRETORIA 00001657 002.2 OF 002 condemning the decision made by the authorities in Myanmar to convict opposition leader Aung Sen Suu Kyi on charges of subversion. This statement was issued by Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DICO) Ebrahim Ebrahim. (DFA briefing, August 11) DICO Minister Hosts a South African Heads of Mission Conference ¶9. (U) Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane began a three-day conference for South African Heads of Missions. This is the first such conference since the election. Zuma, Manuel, Gordhan and Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti are expected to address the conference. The current DICO minister will host a dinner for Former DICO Minister Dlamini-Zuma. (DFA briefing, August 13) Desmond Tutu Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom from American President Barack Obama ¶10. (U) Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu received the medal from President Barack Obama yesterday the 12th at a ceremony held at the White House. Tutu dedicated his medal to all South Africans who fought for freedom and justice. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the US, and is not limited to US citizens or civilians. (Mail and Guardian, August 13) Zimbabwe Requests More Financial Aid From SA ¶11. (U) Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti confirmed that the Zimbabwean government had requested more financial assistance from the South African government. This comes two weeks after DICO revealed that it had transferred two thirds of the R300 million it pledged to assist the power-sharing government earlier this year. Zimbabwe wants a further R300 million from the SA government. (Zimbabwean Independent, August 12) La Lime