African National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe has warned councillors in Kimberley that if they refuse to endorse the provincial leadership’s decision to remove the mayor of the Northern Cape capital they could be redeployed elsewhere.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Mail & Guardian this week, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe set out to define the boundaries of the relationship between the new African National Congress (ANC) leadership and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

The growing public persona of African National Congress treasurer general Mathews Phosa has led Luthuli House to rein in newly elected leaders of the governing party and ensure that all leaders give the same message, the Mail & Guardian has learned.

The theory is gaining ground that Cosatu plans to use Jacob Zuma as a Trojan Horse to break into the engine room of government. In an interview this week the federation’s Western Cape secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, confirmed that the Trojan Horse theory is doing the rounds.

Close relationships between some ministers and MPs are preventing Parliament holding the executive to account, says Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. He is also said to believe that these associations are boosting chronic underspending by government departments.

He might be coming to secure a better relationship with South Africa and to show off his new supermodel bride, Carla Bruni, but behind all the glitz and glamour French President Nicolas Sarkozy is hoping to help French company Areva secure the most lucrative deal South Africa has to offer.

At least three other senior leaders from major Cosatu affiliates face the axe in what is widely seen as a move by the federation’s leaders to purge elements considered supporters of President Thabo Mbeki. This week Cosatu’s central executive committee (CEC) decided to axe Willie Madisha as Cosatu president for “bringing the federation into disrepute”.

The week-long set of Cabinet briefings in February provide a snapshot of the state of government and of the styles and strengths of ministers. An energy crisis is gripping the country and at its heart is the problem that bedevils both economic growth and effective delivery: a dearth of skills

Public servants who do not know how to manage money cost the state R130-million and themselves more than R1-billion in the past financial year. These are the staggering findings of two reports by the Public Service Commission, which investigated the financial misconduct in the state and the indebtedness of public servants.