The Democratic Alliance believes the Cabinet failed to muster a pass in 2005 and performed, on balance, worse than last year, party leader Tony Leon said on Monday.
Presenting the DA’s ”report card” at a media briefing, he said in a rating of ministerial performance on a scale of one to ten across all 28 ministries, including the offices of both the president and the deputy president, the average grade was four and a half — compared with last year’s five.
”The Cabinet’s combined failure reflects the ANC-induced crisis in our state apparatus.
”Ructions within the ruling party, caused by infighting and rival allegiances to President Thabo Mbeki and former deputy president Jacob Zuma, have manifested themselves in the National Intelligence Agency, the South African Police Service, the Scorpions, the public service and the parastatals,” Leon said.
”President Mbeki, for his part, has had a difficult year keeping order in this divided house.
”Undoubtedly, he deserves high praise for axing Jacob Zuma over allegations of corruption related to the multi-billion rand arms deal.
”But his failure to take equally tough action against those implicated in the Oilgate and UN Oil-For-Food scandals suggests that he may well have succumbed to T S Eliot’s last temptation and greatest treason: doing the right deed for the wrong reason.
”As such, we believe his overall performance merits neither an upward nor a downward shift from last year’s 5/10,” Leon said.
Mbeki should also be congratulated on South Africa’s accomplishment of a 5,1 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the first nine months of 2005 as well as his support for critical economic reforms.
He also achieved a measure of success on the foreign policy front — most notably by convincing G-8 leaders at Gleneagles to commit to providing debt relief and increased aid for Africa.
”This was somewhat overshadowed, however, by his continued support of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, in spite of yet another rigged election and a brutal campaign of forced removals (Operation Murambatsvina).”
Leon said it was difficult to give a comprehensive appraisal of Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who succeeded Zuma in challenging and controversial circumstances in June.
”During her comparatively short span in office, however, she has, on balance, impressed. For this reason, she earns a commendable albeit preliminary 7/10.
”The deputy president seems to have the right ideas about the economy. Should Cabinet accept the recommendations of her Accelerated and Shared Growth (ASG) Initiative — which include prioritising skills and infrastructure development, reviewing our inflexible labour market regime and removing the regulatory stranglehold over small business — then this will be good news for economic growth and job-creation.”
However, if Mlambo-Ngcuka was to retain her seven points next year, she would have to overcome her ”occasional proneness to foot-in-mouth syndrome”.
”Earlier this year, she said South Africa ‘learned a few lessons from Zimbabwe’ on land reform. Her spokesperson subsequently claimed she had been joking. She will also have to account fully for her involvement in the Oilgate scandal,” Leon said.
Once again, the best performer was Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, who scored 8/10 for his skilful stewardship of the Treasury.
”In particular, the minister must be congratulated, along with the president, on the 5.1 percent economic growth figure.
The worst performer, also for the second year running, was Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
”Representing a lethal cocktail of prejudice, ignorance and arrogance, the Health Minister earned 0/10 — down from last year’s 1/10 — for her ongoing procrastination over the implementation of an antiretroviral programme, her insistence on punting outlandish HIV/Aids treatments and her marked failure to confront the growing crisis in public hospitals this year.
”It is well and truly time for Dr No either to step aside or be pushed,” he said.
The most improved performer this year was Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour, who had taken a hands-on approach to his portfolio.
He negotiated personally with inmates in Zonderwater who took five warders hostage, tackled the issue of the seven-day establishment and stopped the abuse that tended to characterise overtime payments.
”It is hoped that other ministers will take a leaf out of his book next year,” Leon said. – Sapa