Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09PRETORIA1829 | 2009-09-09 07:55:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Pretoria |
VZCZCXRO1279 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHSA #1829/01 2520755 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 090755Z SEP 09 ZDS FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9550 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 7120 RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 1211 RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 9483 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 001829 |
1. (SBU) Among local observers of South African politics, one key question during the election campaign and in the aftermath of the April vote was whether the balance of power would reside at the Union Buildings or in Luthuli House. Former Deputy President, and current African National Congress (ANC) chairperson, Baleka Mbete gave a few hints about where power lies during a public lecture at the University of Johannesburg in late August. She said that the ANC was instrumental when President Jacob Zuma selected his new Cabinet, but was noncommittal about whether certain government ministries -- including the Ministry of Monitoring and Evaluation -- report to the administration or to the ANC. Despite her vagueness about where power resides, her characterization of government decisions and policies suggests that the ANC is helping set the agenda while the Zuma government is making the final call about implementation. End Summary. -------------------------- Mbete Opens About Zuma's First 100 Days -------------------------- 2. (SBU) ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete spoke to a crowd of roughly 20 students, academics, and journalists at the University of Johannesburg on August 25. She opened her remarks by characterizing the Zuma administration as a "new government." (Note: Her remark later drew derision from the crowd who noted the ANC has been in power since 1994 even if Zuma is newly in office. End Note.) She admitted the previous government under former President Thabo Mbeki did not do enough to address concerns on the ground, saying that "the fact that government did not appear to listen is a main reason people are in the streets today protesting poor service delivery and corrupt local leaders." She said the public is running out of patience because "people want better education, improved health care, more jobs, and protection." According to her, the ANC's ruling party congress in December 2007 addressed ways forward to tackle these issues. However, she added, "We have not yet had a chance to implement our vision fully." Mbete conceded that the municipal structures of government are plagued by poor governance, bad financial management, and corruption among government officials and businesspersons. In addition to knowing about these challenges, the ANC "plans to hold local government leaders more accountable," said Mbete. 3. (SBU) Ways of holding local government leaders more accountable include the establishment of a telephone hotline so citizens can call the government to complain about poor service delivery and corruption, according to Mbete. She also said the ANC would hold leaders accountable by using its policy advisers at Luthuli House to draft ways of improving implementation and monitoring. The discussion of government evaluation and monitoring was illustrative of the new government because its helped clarify where the power of power resides under this new government. Mbete said Luthuli House played a key role in the establishment of the new Ministry for Monitoring and Evaluation. She related, "We pushed really hard for there to be a ministry of evaluation on Zuma's staff at the Union Buildings." However, she added Qon Zuma's staff at the Union Buildings." However, she added that the new ministry would not necessarily report its findings to the ANC. She said, "I do not know if the new ministry has even met yet or whether it has reported anything of note. Collins Chabane (who chairs the ministry) is supposed to report to us, but he may not have anything to debrief yet." (Note: Mbete also discussed the decision to break the Ministry of Education into the Ministry of Basic Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. In her remarks, it was clear that she was a crucial driver in the decision to split the ministries. She said, "I pushed really hard for us to improve education and how we monitor teachers." She believes the Ministry of Basic Education will do a better job of taking responsibility for younger learners as its own entity. End Note.) When asked by an audience member whether an government minister has more clout than an ANC leader, she replied, "Your guess is as good as mine." She contended that the ANC needs to be strengthened, which is PRETORIA 00001829 002.4 OF 002 why the party opted to keep so many leaders out of government. Yet, she added that the temptation of going into government is often too much to sway some to stay at Luthuli House. She said, "There is money at Parliament. There is less money at Luthuli House." 4. (SBU) She discussed the ongoing conversation about the future of provinces in the country. (Note: See Reftel for more information on the debate over provinces. End Note.) She made the argument that the number of provinces should remain fixed and that they should have broad administrative independence. According to her, "Provinces should almost act with their own sovereignty because they border neighboring countries." However, she also noted there is an ongoing debate about whether to consolidate the provinces and there would not be any resolution to the issue for several months. 5. (SBU) In closing, Mbete made one remark that was illustrative of a strain of thinking within the ANC right now. When asked whether South Africa would continue its ambitious foreign policy during the next five years, Mbete replied, "We should not be a leader on the continent ... We do not have all the answers." She added, "We should be focused on internal problems." Her remarks led to murmurs throughout the room as the audience tried to understand how a former Deputy President could make such statements given South Africa's standing on the continent. -------------------------- Comment -------------------------- 6. (SBU) Mbete's discussion of whether the Union Buildings or Luthuli House has more input into final decisions taken by the Zuma government gets to the heart of where power rests in the post-Mbeki era. While it is clear that Luthuli House was consulted early and extensively during the formation of the Zuma government, it is becoming increasingly clear that Cabinet is making final decisions and then implementing them -- often without talking with the ANC first. Such an arrangement is not bad in the short term as the ANC most likely will be concerned with strengthening the party, preparing for the 2011 local elections, and wrestling with rumors of a new succession battle ahead of 2012. Over the longer term, however, any disconnect between the Union Buildings and Luthuli House will weaken leaders both in government and in the party. GIPS |