Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Dlamini-Zuma has no power at AU

Newly elected African Union (AU) chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been set up to fail in her new position, former President Thabo Mbeki said in a media report on Sunday.

“I think part of this feeling that she is going to change [things] is the failure to understand how the AU operates. People might put a big burden on her shoulders expecting her to do this and that and when it doesn’t happen, they will blame her when actually she has no capacity to do these things,” Mbeki told the Sunday Independent.

The former president said AU policies did not originate from the AU Commission, which Dlamini-Zuma heads.

Mbeki said the AU depended on policy made by individual nations, with the commission only able to try and persuade them.

“You have to be able to intervene with the governments in a manner that encourages them,” Mbeki said.

He said the AU had appointed a former head-of-state, Malian President Alpha Konare, for this reason.

“The reasoning was that once you have a former head of state sitting in this position of chair; he will have sufficient influence over his former peers,” Mbeki said. “It didn’t work.”

Mbeki said Konare asked not to be re-appointed to the position at the end of his term.

“The people should not raise expectation with regard to the appointment of Nkosazana, which expectations will be disappointed,” Mbeki said. – Sapa

Hanekom becomes Minister of Science and Technology

Newly-appointed Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom will continue to steer South Africa towards a knowledge economy, his department said on Wednesday.

“Hanekom is familiar with the portfolio of science and technology and he will continue with the drive to steer the country towards a knowledge economy,” director general Phil Mjwara said in a statement.

Hanekom’s appointment and that of his predecessor Naledi Pandor as minister of home affairs were announced earlier in the day.

President Jacob Zumka said in a statement: “They have distinguished themselves in their current portfolios and I am confident that they will do exceptionally well in their new responsibilities as well. I wish them all the best.”

The department thanked Pandor for her leadership, her enthusiasm for science and technology and the role she played in South Africa’s successful bid for the Square Kilometre Array.

Hanekom said it had been a privilege working with Pandor.

“I will build on the foundation laid by my predecessors, including the former minister of science and technology, Mosibudi Mangena,” he said in a statement.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma resigned as home affairs minister last month to chair the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Hanekom will be sworn in as minister at the Union Buildings, in Pretoria. at 10am on Thursday. – Sapa

Dlamini-Zuma becomes head of African Union

South African media on Monday said the election of Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the first female head of the African Union Commission was a watershed and a victory for the region.

Dlamini-Zuma beat incumbent Jean Ping of Gabon in a closely fought election over several rounds of voting late Sunday at the AU summit in Addis Ababa.

She is the first person from the region to head the organisation since its birth in South Africa 10 years ago.

“SADC victory” said the Business Day in a front-page headline, referring to the 15-member Southern African Development Community which backed her candidacy.

“First female AU boss” was a front-page teaser in The Star daily, with the inside story headlined “Dlamini-Zuma finally pips Ping to AU post”.

Local radio stations interrupted scheduled programming late Sunday to break the news of Dlamini-Zuma’s election. Her election also dominated radio talk shows Monday morning.

Her victory ends a six-month impasse over the job, which had divided the continent.

Her former husband, South African President Jacob Zuma, was one of the first to offer his congratulations after the vote.

White minority still feels racially superior – ANC minister

If South Africa is to achieve social cohesion some people cannot continue feeling superior to others, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Wednesday.

“It is very divisive when a minority wants to be treated separately to the majority,” she told the national social cohesion summit in Soweto, Johannesburg.

For real social cohesion, equality must be understood and practised, she said.

“It doesn’t augur well if there are people who still feel superior to others… There are people who still feel superior by the mere fact that they belong to a different race.”

Earlier, Freedom Front Plus MP Corne Mulder called for a ministry for minority affairs.

Dlamini-Zuma called for increased state participation.

“The state must not be a passive state… because you can’t transform with a state that is standing by and leaving everything to uncertain markets. Markets cannot transform society.”

The summit was being held in Kliptown, where 3000 delegates of all races met in 1955 to draft the Freedom Charter, which calls for a non-racial South Africa that belongs to all who live in it.

Delegates explored the role of the judiciary, Parliament, political parties and traditional leaders, among others, in building an inclusive society.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said independence of the judiciary was guaranteed by the Constitution.

“As a government we have no intention of interfering with its independence.”

He said the establishment of an Office of the Chief Justice was the first step towards the total independence of the judiciary.

Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, whose department was hosting the two-day event, said the summit would not be a mere talk shop.

“Out of it must come decisive steps,” he said. These included a clear plan of action to heal the wounds of the past and strengthen social cohesion.

Political parties, business leaders, and civil society and government representatives attended the summit.

Among them were National Assembly Speaker Max Sisulu, former Speaker Frene Ginwala, and Zanele Mbeki, wife of former president Thabo Mbeki.

The summit’s theme is: “Working together to create a proud and caring society”.

President Jacob Zuma first called for such a summit in 2009. – Sapa