Former Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool has been appointed one of two special advisers to Minister in the Presidency Kgalema Motlanthe, the Presidency announced on Wednesday.
The other adviser is former Road Traffic Management Corporation chief executive and African National Congress (ANC) stalwart Khulu Mbatha.
They will counsel Motlanthe on his official government tasks of leading government business in Parliament and helping Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka in the anti-poverty ”war-room” work launched in the Free State last week, the Presidency said.
Motlanthe acts as a link between Parliament, the Cabinet and the National Economic and Development Labour Council (Nedlac).
”Mr Rasool will primarily concentrate on advising the minister on his work in Parliament, while Dr Mbatha will concentrate on other aspects of the minister’s work, including liaison with [ANC headquarters] Luthuli House,” the Presidency said.
Mbatha served as the first private secretary of former foreign affairs minister Alfred Nzo between 1995 and 1996.
He served foreign affairs at the United Nations and in Germany as the consul general of South Africa. He also acted as director general of the Department of Home Affairs, but rejoins the government from the private sector.
Rasool was sacked as Western Cape premier last month following a long-running feud with the ANC’s Western Cape secretary, Mcebisi Skwatsha.
The ANC said at the time that Rasool’s removal would give the party a better chance of winning next year’s elections in the province.
Rasool and Mbatha are the first major appointments to help Motlanthe in his new position.
Motlanthe told the South African Broadcasting Corporation that other appointments could follow when needed.
Describing the Rasool appointment as ”farcical”, the United Democratic Movement (UDM) said it was ”astounded” at the announcement.
”The ANC had effectively booted the man out of office less than a month ago, on the grounds that he had failed in his duties,” said UDM leader Bantu Holomisa.
”Once again we witness somebody who has failed at governing being rewarded with promotion. It makes no sense.
”There is simply no difference between the so-called ‘new’ ANC and the Mbeki-era ANC.
”Indeed, when it comes to cronyism, we can see no difference between them and the erstwhile National Party regime,” he said.
Holomisa said it should be remembered that Motlanthe is destined to become the country’s deputy president, if not its president.
Yet, he is being advised by a person who has been removed from office for his failure at provincial governance.
”This is not simply an entanglement between Messrs Motlanthe and Rasool; the whole nation will be at the mercy of someone who the ANC has publicly branded a failure,” he said. — Sapa