Parliament - President Jacob Zuma says he will not evaluate isiphithiphithi [commotion] in reference to evaluations on Ministers Bathabile Dlamini and Faith Muthambi in light of troubles facing their respective ministries.
President Zuma was answering questions in reference to ministerial evaluations into the conduct of the ministers of social development and communications.
The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Sibongile Nkomo, asked President Zuma on processes taken when ministers are evaluated and how the results of such evaluations are released especially in light of the "appalling" happenings in both Dlamini and Muthambi’s departments.
This as numerous calls have been made for Dlamini’s head in light of the Sassa crisis where no contract has still been signed for a company to deliver social grants to 17 million beneficiaries.
“The issue on Minister Dlamini, the issue being discussed is that we all believe that the first of April might be a difficulty, it has not happened, so how do you evaluate something that has not happened and you evaluate a person and then you condemn or do whatever you want to do but the matter has not happened, I think it is an impossible demand. We evaluate something that has happened, so why should I. The first has not happened and the minister and his colleagues are working on that matter, that people get their monies, why evaluate something that has not happened.”
President Zuma, with regards to Muthambi, who also faces the axe with regards to the happenings at the SABC which led to the dissolution of the board following an inquiry by Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, says it would be premature to make a ruling on her matter.
“Equally with Minister Muthambi, there has been a report and I think she has taken the report for review, we don’t know what will be the final outcome. Why then take action against a minister who is still looking into what she might not perhaps agree with, that is demanding too much of a president, once I do so you will say this president is a dictator, he just decides without fact. What will you be evaluating while the matter is being undertaken to other levels of examination. So I don’t understand why do you think this president must then evaluate as soon as there is a siphithiphithi, then you evaluate, evaluate a siphithiphithi?”