Date: 13/09/2009
Source: Democratic Alliance
Title: DA: Trollip: Speech by DA Parliamentary leader, Eastern Cape

Introduction The recent decisions made by President Zuma, and in particular his senior appointments to the Presidency, and his actions relating to the appointment of a new legal adviser in the Defence Ministry, stand in stark contrast to his public commitment to rooting out corruption. Instead, the President's actions suggest his first inclination is to appoint loyal cadres to these top positions rather than appointing public servants who have a clean track record in government and have the necessary expertise to do their jobs. According to recent reports President Zuma agreed to a request made by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to appoint Paul Ngobeni as her legal adviser. Ngobeni is reportedly facing a number of criminal charges including forgery, larceny and the ill practice of law and there is a warrant out for his arrest in the United States. He is also reportedly barred from practicing law after facing ethical misconduct charges in Connecticut in the United States. However, Paul Ngobeni is also reportedly a strong supporter of Judge John Hlophe and also played a critical role in devising the strategy that led to Jacob Zuma beating his corruption charges. Similarly, President Zuma's own appointments to the Presidency blatantly contradict the statements made recently by ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe that firstly, President Zuma has been tougher on corruption than the previous ANC government and secondly, that he took everyone by surprise as he had not appointed his friends to cabinet or other key posts. Jacob Zuma has appointed the following three people to senior positions in the Presidency despite them having numerous allegations of corruption and dishonest practices hanging over their heads dating back from the previous jobs they have held:
• Jessie Duarte: Appointed as Chief Operations Officer in the Presidency
• Vusi Mona: Appointed as Acting Deputy Director of Communications in the Presidency
• Ayanda Dlodlo: Appointed as Parliamentary Counselor to the Presidency
Jessie Duarte In 1998, while serving as Gauteng Safety and Security MEC, the Moerane Commission was established to investigate allegations of mismanagement and corruption against Duarte and her department. The Commission found that:
• Duarte had driven her official state vehicle without a valid drivers licence and that there was a ‘strong suspicion' she and other department officials had covered up an accident she had while driving this vehicle;
• Gross mismanagement and maladministration had overrun her provincial department.
• Duarte had abused state funds by buying oversees air tickets for a friend who accompanied her on an official visit to Portugal; and
• Duarte had grossly overpaid an unqualified administrative assistant.
Jessie Duarte was asked to resign by the Gauteng provincial leadership as a result of these findings - they "noted with concern the state of affairs", and the "difficulties regarding the normal functioning of the department", and said that "if not addressed urgently [they] may lead to a possible paralysis if not complete collapse of the department".

However, she was then subsequently appointed high commissioner to Maputo and eventually the spokesperson of the ANC. Vusi Mona While editor of the City Press Vusi Mona was involved in a number of scandals, most importantly:
• He was found to have direct interests in a public relations company Rainbow Kwanda Communications that was paid millions by the Mpumalanga government to rectify its scandal-ridden reputation at the time - working as both a newspaper editor and a public relations adviser represents a clear conflict of interest;
• Mona published a story handed to him by former Sunday Times journalist Ranjeni Munusamy (after being rejected by then Sunday Times editor Mathata Tsedu) alleging that former public prosecutions director Bulelani Ngcuka was an apartheid spy and also revealing the contents of an off-the record briefing by Ngcuka in the press. This led to the Hefer Commission of Inquiry of 2003 where Judge Hefer found the allegations against Ngcuka to have no factual basis and stated that with regard to Vusi Mona "The result was that, when the cross-examination ended, his credibility had been reduced to nil." and "I am satisfied that he has discredited himself to such a degree in the newspaper community, that he will not find it easy to procure employment in that field again."
• Mona eventually resigned as editor of the City Press due to his public relations links.
• Recent reports have also alleged that Mona has been involved in a bribery scheme where his company Rainbow Kwanda Communications paid a substantial amount of money to provincial officials in order to secure a R32 million public relations tender from the Mpumalanga Government during 2003.
Ayanda Dlodlo Umkhonto weSizwe Secretary-General Ayanda Dlodlo was charged with swindling the former Scorpions and its confidential informer fund of R30 700 while serving as director of the Scorpions. While these charges were later dropped she still resigned from the NPA as a result of these allegations. It has been speculated that these allegations and her dubious history in the NPA has resulted in her being passed up for both the Commissioner of Police and the National Director of Prosecutions appointments. However, while all three have dishonest and corrupt pasts, they are also all loyal supporters of President Jacob Zuma. Jessie Duarte has during her tenure as ANC spokesperson defended Jacob Zuma on numerous occasions when it comes to his own charges of corruption include referring to the Nicholson judgment as "[A] victory for justice and the constitution" and to subsequent appeal against this judgment as "Cynical and ill-considered..By not accepting the court's ruling, the NPA has lost a valuable opportunity to bring the relentless pursuit of Jacob Zuma to an end." Vusi Mona's loyalty to Jacob Zuma was clearly demonstrated by his actions against Bulelani Ngcuka who was linked to the investigations into allegations of corruption against then deputy president Zuma. While it tarnished his reputation as a journalist Vusi Mona proved that he was a strong ally of Jacob Zuma. Lastly, Ayanda Dlodlo has also been strongly outspoken about the corruption charges against Jacob Zuma stating at the time of the Nicholson judgment, "the judge agrees with us that our president has been treated unfairly. He never received support from cabinet and the past ANC leadership. He was a loner amongst sharks." She also led meetings with the head of the NPA Mokotedi Mpshe to try to convince him to drop the corruption charges against Jacob Zuma at the time. This is clearly in direct conflict with the previous position she held in the NPA. It also demonstrates how her loyalty to Zuma supersedes the respect she should have, as a previous employee of the NPA, for the institution's independence as it has resulted in her trying to directly influence an NPA investigation. Conclusion In a recent interview President Zuma was asked whether even "high-up heads" would roll when it comes to stamping out corruption. He responded "Absolutely." "I have said from the president downwards." However, by appointing Jessie Duarte, Vusi Mona and Ayanda Dlodlo to top positions in the Presidency it appears that the President makes all the right noises when it comes to rooting out corruption but doesn't put these words into action. It is clear that instead of hiring competent public servants who have a proven track record of acting honestly and with integrity at all times he has chosen to appoint people who have extremely dodgy pasts but who have demonstrated their loyalty to him on numerous occasions. By doing this he has turned the office of the Presidency into nothing more than means to reward and repay his loyal cadres. The Presidency is meant to serve as an example for all other government departments when it comes to promoting transparency, openness, accountability and integrity at all times and it is clear that these three appointments do not bode well when it comes to fulfilling this role. Nor, does it bode well when it comes to President Zuma's vocal commitments to fight against and root out corruption in his administration.