/ 25 November 2010

Nyanda ‘looking forward’ to new liaison role

President Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday the surprise appointment of axed communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda as his parliamentary counsellor.

President Jacob Zuma announced on Thursday the surprise appointment of axed communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda as his parliamentary counsellor.

Nyanda was said to have been offered an ambassadorship to Germany to ease the pain of being kicked out of Cabinet, but declined the offer in favour of serving as Zuma’s liaison with Parliament.

Nyanda said in a statement released by the presidency: “I look forward to this deployment and the opportunity to contribute to strengthening relations between Parliament and the executive. I am also encouraged by the president’s determination to promote good working relations with political parties represented in Parliament.

“We have to further develop these relations so that we can identify and highlight issues that are in the national interest that we can work on together.”

The previous parliamentary counsellor was Ayanda Dlodlo, who was promoted to deputy minister of public service and administration during the Cabinet reshuffle at the end of October.

Like Dlodlo, Nyanda has little experience in Parliament. He had never served as an MP before Zuma appointed him as communications minister in May 2009. Both Dlodlo and Nyanda have military experience — they were members of the ANC’s military wing Umkhonto weSizwe.

Nyanda went on to become the head of the South African National Defence Force while Dlodlo became a founding member of the MK Veterans’ Association of the ANC, where she still serves as secretary general.

Corruption claims
Nyanda’s appointment will come as a surprise to many, as his area of expertise is mostly in the security sector. Shortly after the Cabinet reshuffle where he lost his ministerial job there was speculation that he would be a special adviser on security to the president.

Nyanda does not come without baggage. He is dogged by corruption claims because of his family company Abalozi’s involvement in government tenders. Nyanda ceased to be a shareholder in the company, but it is wholly owned by his family members.

The Mail & Guardian reported earlier this year on Nyanda’s extravagant stays at the Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town, with the taxpayer footing the bill. He will now be stationed in Tuynhuys, which is a stone’s throw away from the Nellie, as the hotel is affectionately known.