ANC stands by cadre deployment amid criticism

ANC government ministers have defended cadre deployment as a transformation policy saying any ruling party needed to deploy qualified people to implement its policies and programmes.

The Independent Online reported that the Minister of Public Service and Administration, Noxolo Kiviet, said the Democratic Alliance (DA) even lost its case in the Pretoria High Court, which ruled that cadre development was not unlawful and unconstitutional.

PUTTING QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN KEY POSITIONS – KIVIET

“The DA has chosen to take the matter, which it lost in court, on appeal. They can’t come and want to reopen that court discussion here. Here we are debating the professionalisation report from the Public Service Commission. It is what we are acting on as the ANC-led government.,” said Kiviet. She said the court has ruled that there is nothing unconstitutional about it.

Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, said cadre deployment was necessary for any party that is in charge to ensure it sends qualified people to run the government.

Ramokgopa said the ANC was using cadre deployment to ensure it sends qualified people to take up key positions. She said any party that wins elections will deploy its own people.

‘SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANTS TRAINED IN EUROPE AND U.S. SAYS ANC

“I am saying this precisely because when you do cadre development, you take people who are qualified to ensure that what it is that you have said in your manifesto does take place. That is what cadre development is about. I think that there is a misconception about that,” Ramokgopa said.

Also defending the policy is Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, who said that they have qualified people in key positions in their department.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile also defended the cadre deployment policy, saying the ANC was open to discussing it. He said the ruling party trained some senior public servants in Europe and the United States.

WE ARE NOT EMBARRASSED ABOUT CADRE DEPLOYMENT – MASHATILE

“Many of the people have been trained by the ANC; some sent to the best schools in Europe and America. That is cadre development,” he said.

“We, in the ANC, make sure that if someone has to go and lead in any sector, they have the requisite skills. That is what cadre development is all about. We are not shy about talking about it. We are not embarrassed because a lot of the people in the public service today, the ANC has trained top people,” Mashatile added.