Mlambo-Ngcuka,+Manuel+top+DA+rankings,+Business+Day

Business Day, Johannesburg, 13 December 2005
=Mlambo-Ngcuka, Manuel top DA rankings=


 * Linda Ensor, Political Correspondent**

CAPE TOWN — Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka emerged yesterday with high marks from an unlikely source — the Democratic Alliance (DA).

But she was beaten to the top spot in the cabinet by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, who scored eight again this year — the same score he received last year.

Each year the official opposition gives the presidency and cabinet ministers scores of between one and 10.

The DA yesterday gave the entire cabinet an average of 4,5 out of 10, down from five last year, with President Thabo Mbeki remaining at five out of 10, as he was last year.

DA leader Tony Leon said the deputy president, who scored seven, had “talked the talk” and had the right ideas about the economy. The big question was whether she could “walk the walk”, he said.

Manuel was applauded for his management of the economy, which has grown an unprecedented 5,1% so far this year.

If Manuel was dux of the class, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang was the dunce. She got no points at all for her mishandling of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Last year she got one point.

The most improved performer according to the DA was Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour for his hands-on approach in negotiating with inmates at Zonderwater and stopping the abuse that characterised overtime payments to staff.

The DA praised Mbeki for his axing of former deputy president Jacob Zuma but castigated his failure to act on the Imvume and United Nations oil-for-food scandals. His foreign affairs successes were marred by his continued support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, the DA said.

Other poor performers were Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, with two out of 10, who the DA accused of grossly mismanaging the unemployment and skills crisis in the country.

Agriculture and Land Affairs Minister Thoko Didiza slipped from five out of 10 last year to three out of 10 for her attacks on a market-oriented approach to land reform and the “willing buyer-willing seller” principle.

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula dropped from five to three points out of 10 for his perceived lack of leadership in the fight against crime.

Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who scored four out of 10, was slammed for the “chronic corruption and backlogs” in her department.

Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi scored two out of 10 for “the ever-mounting corruption and maladministration in the country’s African National Congress (ANC) run municipalities”.

On balance, the cabinet performed worse this year than last year, the DA said.

“The cabinet’s combined failure reflects the ANC-induced crisis in our state apparatus,” Leon said.

“The crisis in the ruling party has become a crisis of the state.

“At municipal level the state barely functions. ANC-led local governments spend more time managing internal political conflicts than delivering basic services.” With I-Net Bridge


 * http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A127117**