Barbara Hogan: Collateral Damage

Jacob Zuma reshuffled his cabinet, fine, but what did he actually achieve? Did he get rid of non-performing ministers and send a stern message to all government departments? No...

Sp what happened and why did Barbara Hogan get the axe?

Jacob Zuma organised the cabinet reshuffle while consulting with his ANC Alliance partners, like Cosatu and made sure that most of the ministers in the ANC security cluster remained safe, except for Fikile Mbalula, who conflicted with Zuma's Police minister, Nathi Mthetwa over policy implementation. All of these ministers were hand picked by Zuma and is just another case of presidential protectionism... Thabo Mbeki was very defensive of his economic cluster of minsiters. Zuma, like Mbeki, will not fire or replace any ministers in his security cluster for the same reason that he personally hand picked them.


But Zuma needs to beware of his protectionism becoming full blown nepotism, as it will irrecably damage the ANC's reputation both locally and abroad. Mbeki lost power through loosing popularity with members of the ANC caucus over his inability to acknowledge the public complaints and international pressure to take responsibility for the problems in his administration (like the raging AIDS epidemic). Zuma could also experience serious problems from being overly defensive of the mistakes and failures of the ministers in his security cluster.

And this is the painful reality behind Barbara Hogan's dismissal, as she was not connected to any of the ANC Alliance partners and also because Malusi Gigaba was wanting her postion. Gigbab has an overwhelming mountain of media scrutiny and public ridicule for the condition of his corruption riddled ministry of Home Affairs, which has a bloated unproductive administration. Gigaba has done nothing to correct these problems, nor address the issue of 15 to 25 million illegal immigrants living undocumented in South Africa and Gigaba will have to process a monolithic amount of demographic data next year (2011) when the proposed National Census occurs, which the Home Affairs ministry is completely unprepared for carrying out the Census and the subsequent activities that will result.

So why replace the well performing Barbara Hogan as the Public Enterprises minister with the imeffectual Malusi Gigaba from the Bloated Home Affairs minsitry? Simple... Barbara Hogan was too outspoken about problems in the ANC government and the changes that were needed (She was too Leftist for the Zuma lead ANC Alliance). She was too musch of an opposition and drew the wrong sort of attention to issues in the Zuma administration, which made a problem for Zuma, as she was interfering with the plans of the ANC Caucus. that was why it was better for Zuma to move Gigaba in, so that the ANC could achive its objectives onbstructed by Barbara Hogan.

What is so important about the Public Enterprises ministry? It is the ministry that organises and appoints the tenders for public projects and therefore, is a prime vehicle for the ANC government to acquire contacts and financial donations from companies that want their tenders approved. It's the Arms Deal Scandal all over again, but focussed on home ground (where there is a lot less scrutiny from the international media)!

The ANC needs a trusted person in this postion in order to manipulate the tender process and gain all of the bribes and that is why the issue of Nationalising the Mines will keep appearing in the media, as it is the nect relevant step in the plans of the ANC Caucus! The ANC Ministers and core Party members can make billions in bribes and retrospective payments (gratuity for services rendered)...

The ANC are, in effect, trying to speed up the "Gravy Train" and reap in as much as they can, which is why you will see the Security Cluster ministers involved in the NAtionalisation of the mines discussions! And you wonder why the ANC is making such a fuss about all the attention its getting and why they want to force the Media Security Bill through Parliament. It's all so bloody obvious it screams corruption!!!