The Independent Democrats (ID) Parliamentary Leader Joe Mcgluwa says the ID will use its oversight role in Parliament over the next six months to campaign for Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to stay on as Home Affairs Minister.

This follows announcement that the appointment of the new African Union (AU) Chairperson has been put on hold for six months, as neither Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, nor Jean Ping managed to secure a two-thirds majority.  

‘It is beneficial for South Africa at this crucial stage of home affairs’ work in progress that the AU vote has ended in deadlock,’ says Mr Mcgluwa.

‘As a country still finding its feet in a young democracy, Dlamini-Zuma has proven to be one of but a few ministers who have managed an untarnished reputation as well as delivering excellent work. She has managed to achievement the first unqualified audit for the department of home affairs since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy last year, and is an asset to both the Zuma cabinet and the country.

‘Had the minister successfully unseated Jean Ping as the first chairwoman of the African Union Commission, it may have crippled home affairs at this critical stage of its stabilising process. This does not mean that the ID does not have any confidence in Dlamini-Zuma should she be elected, but our concern at this stage is the country’s wellbeing.

‘It is a known fact that that Dlamini-Zuma  would have to resign from her current post as minister and relocate to Addis Ababa where the AU’s headquarters is situated for the four year term had she won the vote,’ states Mcgluwa.

‘The ID will over the next six months engage with other opposition parties with the intention of running a robust campaign for Dlamini-Zuma to remain as minister and retract her candidacy in the AU election.

‘It will be a terrible pity if President Jacob Zuma and his cabinet realises too late that Dlamini-Zuma’s resignation could have a devastating effect on service delivery. This is a gamble that the executive should seriously consider especially since home affairs has had a long bumpy road which has been heavily burdened with fraud and corruption,’ Mcgluwa says.
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For media enquiries, contact Joe Mcgluwa on 084 213 3811