Thulas Thembelani Nxesi (Grade C+)

DepartmentJustice and Correctional Services Key Goals AnalysisIt is a comfort that Ronald Lamola is surrounded by capable officials because his political ambitions are as consuming as the demands of his day job. It’s been a busy time on both fronts. The justice department is heading for a budget windfall of billions in February meant to […]

DepartmentHigher Education, Science and Innovation Key Goals Analysis Blade Nzimande had a quiet but effective year. Tertiary education institutions are back in full swing.  Although the pandemic will have lasting effects on basic and higher education, it has very much settled in the background and allowed departments to move forward.  But a struggle the department […]

DepartmentPresidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Key Goals 1. Establish the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF): Failed2. Launch multi-sectoral GBVF rapid response teams in all provinces, district and local municipality levels: Progress3. Roll out technical monitors and data capturers in six provinces to enhance the capacity of provinces to implement […]

DepartmentDefence and Military Veterans Key Goals Analysis The department of defence has made progress towards achieving some of its key goals during Thandi Modise’s first full year in office, but its financial management continues to be of real concern, as does its failure to make full disclosures to the auditor general. During the 2021-22 financial […]

DepartmentHome Affairs Key Goals 1. Revamp the immigration system: Failed2. Address the backlog of the asylum and refugee appeals: Failed3. Minimise the time that systems are offline to address long queues: Failed4. Implement the Border Management Authority: Progress Analysis What should have been a good public relations event,when Motsoaledi issued smart ID cards to a […]

DepartmentHuman Settlements Key Goals 1. Authorise the Housing Development Agency to implement informal settlements upgrading programmes on behalf of provinces: Progress2. Appoint new board members at various housing entities: Achieved3. Initiative between the department, the treasury and Northern Cape and Eastern Cape to expedite housing delivery: Progress4. Establish Operation Vulindlela to address the backlog of […]

DepartmentCooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Key Goals Analysis With 42 of South Africa’s municipalities having collapsed, and another 151 teetering on the brink, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma faces almost as severe a challenge as she did with the nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Dlamini-Zuma has spearheaded key interventions to try […]

DepartmentBasic Education Key Goals Analysis The 2022 academic year was the first in two years that went ahead without any Covid-19 disruptions.  The department’s reports show it might take eight years to recover the learning time lost during the pandemic.  In January, Motshekga laid down a recovery plan for the education system, including trimming down […]

DepartmentPolice Key Goals 1. Recruit and train 12 000 new officers over the medium term expenditure framework (up to the 2023-24 financial year): Achieved2. Strengthen crime intelligence to avoid a recurrence of the July 2021 unrest: Failed3. Address root causes of crime and violence: Partially achieved4. Fight gender-based violence and femicide: Partially achieved Analysis There […]

DepartmentInternational Relations and Cooperation Key Goals AnalysisNaledi Pandor has had the impossible task of not alienating Russian President Vladimir Putin, or more crucial allies, while he commits war crimes in the Ukraine and threatens nuclear calamity. When the war began, the department of international relations urged Russia to respect a sovereign neighbour and withdraw its […]

DepartmentDepartment of Social Development Key Goals 1. Improve grant system and prevent fraud: Progress 2. Strengthen prevention and response mechanisms to reduce gender-based violence and femicide: Progress 3. Basic income grant for tabling to cabinet: Progress 4. Address the shortage of social workers: Failed Analysis One of Lindiwe Zulu’s biggest headaches is the poor state […]

DepartmentFinance Key Goals Analysis Enoch Godongwana has emerged as one of the most trusted members of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet.  Regarded as highly rational, Godongwana’s second year in the position has seen him continue his role as the finance minister with one of the tightest grips on the country’s purse strings. And, at least for […]