'Motlanthe's position in government secure,' says Zuma

PRETORIA - President Jacob Zuma has dismissed concerns that his deputy in government, Kgalema Motlanthe, will leave his post following his failed bid for the African National Congress (ANC) presidency in Mangaung last month.

Having lost the presidential race, Motlanthe declined nomination to serve as an additional member of the ANC national executive committee (NEC), fuelling speculation that he was no longer prepared to work with Zuma.

'There's no tension, no dilemma,' Zuma told Business Day's sister newspaper the Financial Times on Sunday.

He said Motlanthe was expected to stay in his position until next year's election.

'After 2014, that's a different matter (in terms of a reshuffle).'

Newly elected ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa will become the country's deputy president after next year's elections.

Some people expect Ramaphosa to assume the role of a de facto prime minister, where he would have a significantly visible role as number two, within the confines of the current laws.

On his own role in government, Zuma defended his administration, which has a mantra of 'doing things differently', as it seeks to speed up the delivery of services.

'I'm very happy. In 2009, I said this many times, we must do things differently in government and we have been very decisive,' he said.

Zuma often gets accused of dithering.

'If I was taking decisions you would say this Zuma is a dictator, he is autocratic, he does not consult . . . you would have criticism that would be even more terrible. This is democracy - in democracy you discuss,' he said.

He dismissed predictions that the ANC could lose support in the 2014 poll. Zuma also dismissed complaints about the controversial upgrade to his Nkandla residence, as squeals of 'people who don't know what they are talking about'.

On the Marikana massacre, Zuma blamed the mining companies for raising the wages of rock drill operators, which caused other miners to pursue their own wage demands.

He said there would be a 'radical shift' with greater State intervention in the economy, particularly mining where he said companies have not fulfilled their obligations to support social development.

The government would come up with a 'very clear package', on its policies for the mining sector at the 'right time', he said
Meanwhile ANC leader Tony Yengeni was one of the losers as the party's NEC put together a new team of portfolio heads after Police minister Nathi Mthethwa became head of political education.

Pravin Gordhan (finance) Rob Davies (trade and industry) and Gugile Nkwinti (rural development) were elected to serve as the party's economic committee.

Their election to the NEC was seen as a bid to link economic policy thinking between the party and State. It was hoped their presence would also improve the party's ability to make and articulate economic policy.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said on Saturday the subcommittees were set up at a meeting on Friday, but details were to be released yesterday, so that the committees did not distract attention from the party's 101st birthday rally.

Enoch Godongwana, who was the head of the economic policy section, takes over the broader area of economic transformation, under which economic policy falls. The economic transformation committee was chaired by Max Sisulu prior to Mangaung.

These committees oversee the work of the ANC and are an important part of policy formation and oversight.

Home Affairs minister Naledi Pandor was elected head of the education and health committee, replacing KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize, who became treasurer in Mangaung. The head of the national disciplinary committee, Science and Technology minister Derek Hanekom, retained his post. The national disciplinary committee of appeals, previously chaired by Ramaphosa is now chaired by Justice minister Jeff Radebe. Ngoako Ramatlhodi will head the elections committee, previously led by Jessie Duarte, now deputy secretary-general.

Lindiwe Zulu takes over the communications committee formerly headed by Pallo Jordan. She is Zuma's special adviser on foreign affairs in the Presidency. The international relations committee, previously headed by Ebrahim Ebrahim, was taken over by Obed Bapela.