The Union Buildings was rocked this week by the resignation of several staff members in the communications department and indications are that the director general, Vusi Mavimbela, is also planning to quit. Mandy Rossouw quizzed presidential communications adviser Zizi Kodwa
Did the recent spate of resignations in the presidency come as a surprise to you?
The media has blown this out of proportion. It is actually only two resignations, two chief directors [presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya and Steyn Speed].
One of the officials [Speed] told us last year that he would work with us for only one year and then go and study. It was widely reported in the media that the other colleague was considering leaving the presidency.
So there was no surprise in both cases. Vusi Mona is part of the presidency; he will move to GCIS [Government Communication and Information Systems], which reports to the minister in the presidency.
What do you make of allegations that head of the private office Lakela Kaunda played a role in prompting people to resign? Is this a fair reflection of the state of affairs in the presidency? If yes, why do you think these issues are coming out?
That is incorrect and very unfair. People resign in all organisations. It is normal; we do not know why when two chief directors resign in the presidency it must be presented as a national crisis, especially when one of them had indicated on accepting the position last year that he would serve for a period of one year.
There are about 500 people in the presidency and the institution is functioning normally. It sometimes happens that disgruntled staff members speak negatively of their employers. Employees who want to make suggestions for improvements in the office do so through the correct internal channels. The motives of those who go to the media are very questionable.
How do you think the resignations reflect on the presidency and on President Jacob Zuma’s leadership?
There is nothing extraordinary about these resignations and they have nothing to do with the president or his leadership.
Why was the communications unit in the presidency moved to the private office?
This was done for operational reasons to ensure efficiency, better coordination and cohesiveness in the communication function. Communications personnel providing media liaison and speech-writing support to the president need to work closely with their political principal to understand the interests and style. A private office is the best place for their location to ensure proximity.
This is a requirement of the Government Communication Task Team Report of 2000, which recommended that the communications function in government must be led from the offices of political principals to ensure that it be recognised as a strategic function. It works better because you have a team of communicators who work with the principal on a day-to-day basis. They understand him better and know how to plan his communication programme.
It is advantageous for journalists, too, as they will work with a team that has round-the-clock access, better understanding of the principal and is able to speak and act authoritatively.
How would you describe the presidency as a workplace?
Working with President Zuma makes the presidency a very fulfilling place to work in, although very pressure-driven and hectic. You wake up each day looking forward to going to work to do that little bit to contribute to changing people’s lives for the better.
Our current pre-occupation is to change the way government works to improve service delivery. He has no patience for lazy people. He is very hands-on, wants to see change and service delivery happening faster and that keeps the adrenalin running among staff.
Will all the vacant positions be advertised or will some of the positions become redundant?
This will be informed by the needs of the office.
Are the advisers — Charles Nqakula, Mandisi Mpahlwa, Lindiwe Zulu, Welile Nhlapo and Ayanda Dlodlo — actively playing their roles? We hear they are not doing much.
Advisers play their role in their areas of expertise, which are security, governance, economic, international relations, legal and political fields.
The perception is that the president has opted for people he trusts in the key advisory roles. Will all staffers who are outside his inner circle therefore eventually have to leave?
All leaders have their own preferences when it comes to advisers and staff. They look for certain strengths. The president does the same. The bottom line for him is hard work, competence, commitment and passion for people, especially the poor. His mission is to improve the functioning of the government machinery so that the poor can access services faster and for citizens to be treated with respect and dignity.
Are you convinced that we have seen an end to major movements in and around the presidency?
This notion that once people join the presidency they must stay there forever because when they leave it reflects badly on the leadership of President Zuma is bizarre. It also gives an impression that we must turn the presidency into a prison and refuse permission for people to leave when they want to. The presidency would like to be the employer of choice [but] there is stiff competition for talent in the market place.