Is SA’s GNU big on leadership quantity and poor on leadership quality?

Having failed in its worst electoral performance on 29 May, to win enough votes to secure an outright majority of National Assembly seats necessary to form a government on its own, the African National Congress (ANC) had no choice but to form a coalition or multi-party government.

After several weeks of intense negotiations between the ANC and opposition political parties, an agreement was reached about a Government of National Unity (GNU). On 30 June, President Ramaphosa announced his new multi-party, 77-strong , National Executive or Cabinet.

The leadership quantity ?

Several media statements, including those issued by opposition parties that decided against joining the GNU , have described the President’s new Cabinet as bloated - an observation made about earlier cabinets by parties now part of the GNU.

The GNU involves an increase of 2 ministerial positions and 8 deputy ministerial positions, meaning , “almost one in every five members of parliament [specifically, the National Assembly] is either a minister or a deputy minister”. The increase in Cabinet membership makes it the largest National Executive in South Africa’s post-1994 history – bigger than current cabinets in comparable countries , including Germany, which has a larger population and economy than South Africa.

Recognising the inefficiency that can and often does accompany big governments , South Africa’s Free Market Foundation called for reducing South Africa’s ministries to 10, even before President Ramaphosa announced his new Cabinet.

The bigger Cabinet means an even greater financial burden on the relatively small number of South Africans that constitute South Africa’s tax base – 3 million South Africans pay 90 % of the Country’s income tax.

According to Business Day , the new, bigger Cabinet will incur taxpayers an estimated cost of R183m per year for salaries (ministers receive a salary of R2.68m and deputy ministers R2.2m, per year), more than R500m per year for VIP protection and security and a further R390m per year for support staff.

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has arrogantly and illogically (perhaps, dishonestly) blamed voters for the inflation of cabinet expenses. As though the electorate conspired before the elections to make South Africa’s post-election landscape what it is, Ntshavheni said during a media briefing on the GNU,

“The electorate chose an outcome that landed us in a government of national unity (GNU) and there is a need for inclusivity, so the electorate will also have to accept the responsibility that what they gave us. For us to make lemonade out of lemons, there is a cost to it and that cost will have to be carried. It’s a new normal.”

If we agree with Professor William M. Gumede of the Wits School of Governance , that part of what distinguishes a GNU from an “ordinary coalition” (what I have elsewhere called a ‘minimalist coalition of necessity’), is that the former is motivated by “a crisis in the country,” and the fact that one “party alone cannot deliver…or cannot alone tackle the crisis,” then there is no one more to blame for the expanded cabinet than Minister Ntshavheni’s political party (the ANC), its president, and the party’s die-hard supporters.

Furthermore, while inclusivity can be good in principle, I have explained in an upcoming article that the ANC could have formed a coalition or multi-party government without President Ramaphosa creating a larger Cabinet.

Even if an expanded Cabinet was unavoidable, which it wasn’t, Ntshavheni, her colleagues in the GNU, and the rest of South Africa’s National Assembly, if truly concerned about managing the national fiscus to the benefit of citizens, and if cognizant of Simon Sinek 's key message in his book “Leaders Eat Least,” should reconsider their salaries (how they compare to the average taxpayer), their many perks (including free municipal services), and why it is they need so much security (if they truly are servants of the people ).

While Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie's commitment to pledge his annual R 2.6 million salary to charity (let's see if he follows through) and Minister of Correctional Services Dr. Pieter Groenewald declining "blue lights and state-funded bodyguards" (although policy may not necessarily allow this ), are both admirable gestures, it would be better, overall, if South Africans had more freedom to do with their financial earnings what they want - meaning, if they could give less in taxes to government, rather than more, without pulling the social welfare rug out from under South Africa's poor and unemployed.

Finally, Ntshavheni, her colleagues in the GNU, and the rest of South Africa’s National Assembly should consider what their share of the national budget as public servants communicates to ordinary South Africans and whether the message inspires national unity. This brings us to the question of leadership quality. ?????

The leadership quality ??

There are quantitative concerns around President Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet – its size and the accompanying financial costs – a burden that a minority of tax-paying South Africans must carry. There are also qualitative concerns – for example, “getting a diverse group of politicians to agree”.

Another is whether all the new cabinet ministers (many reboots from previous ANC administrations) possess the character and competence to lead South Africa out of the “systemic crisis” that Prof. Gumede has spoken about .

In his article about transformational leadership, Director of the The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the 南非开普敦大学 , Professor Faizel Ismail , has asked whether “our politicians [are] mature enough to provide South Africans with the leadership we need” (I have previously argued for servant leadership in South Africa, including among the country's politicians).

Before the new Cabinet announcement, OUTA - Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse CEO, Wayne Duvenage , said ,

“‘These appointments are crucial, as they either introduce new leaders with fresh perspectives or retain current ministers whose past performance will impact future outcomes. We are, however, cognizant of the fact that in some cases continuity will serve the country better, but only if previous leadership has been effective and their plans need to be sustained.’”

In the lead-up to announcing his new Cabinet, President Ramaphosa said,

“In forming the National Executive of our country, we have had to consider several factors and advance…key principles. We have had to ensure…the incoming government will be effective and that it will have people with the experience, skills, and capabilities to deliver on its mandate. It is important that we deploy into positions of responsibility people who are committed, capable, and hard-working, and who also have integrity.”

After announcing his 77-person Cabinet, President Ramaphosa continued,

“They have the responsibility to work together, to serve the people of South Africa as a whole. None of the members of the National Executive has [sic] been appointed to serve the interests of a particular constituency, a particular party, or a particular section of society. Collectively, and individually, they are responsible to the people of South Africa…As the leaders of political parties, as Ministers, as Deputy Ministers, public representatives, we understand and accept the responsibility that we bear. We have all been called upon to serve the people of this country and we will do so with the utmost of our ability.”?

Have South Africa’s post-election coalition government negotiations, with President Ramaphosa at the helm, succeeded in appointing to Cabinet the kind of people the President described during his Cabinet announcement?

Possessing the requisite knowledge is vital to the success of any leadership position. A relevant formal qualification (or several) can contribute to a leader possessing the necessary foundational knowledge. BusinessTech has reported , “the education levels of…new ministers vary substantially, even across party lines.”

While formal education can be of great value, a track record of relevant work experience in which a government official has shown herself to be an effective leader can be just as much of an indicator, if not a more accurate indicator, of leadership capacity.

Furthermore, while an individual may be highly knowledgeable and academically qualified, he may not possess the integrity without which his knowledge ultimately becomes a liability for those impacted by his leadership.

Consider the words of America’s 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt: “A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.” ????????

According to news reports about persons in President Ramaphosa’s National Executive , some dating as far back as former President Zuma’s first term, it is questionable whether the GNU Cabinet matches the President’s rhetorical criteria for good governance.

In her article about the need for ethical leadership in the GNU, Dr. Liezl Groenewald , CEO of The Ethics Institute and co-founder of The Whistleblower House , writes that key characteristics of ethical leadership include leading by example and exercising responsibility. To what degree in the past, have members in President Ramaphosa's new Cabinet led by example and shown themselves to be responsible?

News reports link at least 30 GNU Cabinet members to alleged or confirmed cases of corruption and/or mismanagement, including:

01)? President Cyril Ramaphosa

02)? Deputy President Paul Mashatile

03)?? Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen

04)?? Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rosemary Nokuzola Capa

05)?? Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development is Mzwanele Nyhontso

06)? Deputy Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development Chupu Mathabatha

07)?? Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube

08)? Deputy Minister of Basic Education Reginah Mhaule ?

09)?? Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi

10)?? Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele

11)?? Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Velinkosi Hlabisa.

12)? Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dickson Masemola ?

13)?? Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Zolile Burns‐Ncamashe

14)? Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga

15)?? Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Bantu Holomisa

16)?? Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Richard Mkhungo

17)? Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

18)?? Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Samantha Graham

19)? Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande

20)?? Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina

21)?? Minister of Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth.

22)?? Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya

23)?? Deputy Ministers of Employment and Labour Phumzile Mgcina

24)? Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana

25)?? Deputy Minister of Finance David Masondo

26)?? Deputy Minister of Finance Ashor Sarupen

27)?? Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George

28)?? Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh

29)? Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts ?

30)? Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi

31)? Deputy Minister of Health Joe Phaahla

32)?? Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane

33)?? Deputy Minister of Higher Education Buti Manamela

34)?? Deputy Minister of Higher Education Mimmy Gondwe

35)?? Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber

36)?? Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Njabulo Nzuza

37)? Minister of Human Settlements Mmamoloko Kubayi ?

38)?? Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Tandi Mahambehlala

39)? Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola

40)?? Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes

41)? Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Tandi Moraka

42)?? Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Nkadimeng

43)?? Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel

44)? Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe

45)?? Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Judith Nemadzinga‐Tshabalala

46)?? Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa

47)?? Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Mohai

48)? Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu

49)? Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo

50)? Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale

51)? Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

52)?? Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli

53)?? Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenneth Morolong

54)?? Minister of Public Service and Administration Mzamo Buthelezi

55)? Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Pinky Kekana

56)?? Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson

57)? Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala

58)?? Minister of Small Business Development is Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

59)?? Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole

60)?? Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe

61)?? Deputy Minister of Social Development Ganief Hendricks

62)? Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie

63)?? Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe

64)? Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille

65)?? Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu

66)? Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau

67)?? Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Zuko Godlimpi

68)?? Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Andrew Whitfield

69)?? Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy

70)?? Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa

71)? Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina

72)? Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo

73)?? Deputy Ministers of Water and Sanitation Isaac Seitlholo

74)? Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga

75)? Deputy Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike

76)?? Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald

77)? Deputy Minister of Correctional Services Lindiwe Ntshalintshali

Any doubts about the leadership character and competence of the GNU Cabinet members echo what Rebecca Davis of Daily Maverick recently asked about the wider National Assembly: “Has there ever been a democratic[ally elected] SA Parliament more stuffed with compromised government officials?”

GNU Cabinet members who are guilty of corruption and/or mismanagement in the past have rightly or wrongly been afforded an opportunity to redeem themselves. South Africans (including those in the National Assembly) who want what’s best for the country, will hope Cabinet members with questionable pasts take advantage of this opportunity for redemption. Well-meaning South Africans will also have to hold them accountable, however, if they do not.

Craig Bailie holds a Master’s degree in International Studies from Rhodes University and certificates in Thought Leadership for Africa’s Renewal and Transformative Governance from the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI) and the University of the Free State (UFS), respectively. He is the founding director of Bailie Leadership Consultancy. He writes in his personal capacity and reserves the right to improve his views whenever possible.