Cadre deployment has long been criticised and with good reason. The Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture found the policy unconstitutional and illegal and said it contributed significantly to state capture.
Then deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo said the constitution envisaged a public administration that “maintains a high standard of professional ethics: that is efficient, economic and effective in its use of resources and that is impartial, fair, equitable and without bias”.
Cadre deployment ran contrary to all these values guiding the political-administrative interface, he said.
Though the Gauteng high court later ruled differently, there can be no doubt that members of a partisan administration tend to owe their allegiance to the party and the individuals in that party that appointed them.
This system of patronage ensures that that the constitution and the public come stone last in that hierarchy of loyalty.
Premier Oscar Mabuyane made the point about how political vagaries in appointments made for unstable local governance.
In this case, he was addressing ANC factionalism but, ironically, made a strong argument against cadre deployment.
He urged winning factions at elective conferences not to “purge” staff or fill municipal positions along factional lines — too often irrespective of required qualifications for the job.
Unfortunately, he didn’t carry this logic to its obvious conclusion. He said that it was not up to winning factions to hire and fire officials but rather the party itself.
But, as pointed out by Zondo, it is the ANC’s cadre deployment committees that are often the problem.
Appointments, promotions and transfers should be done on the basis of values such as qualification, fairness, transparency and accountability and not on the basis of membership of any political party.
The ANC continues to defend cadre deployment arguing it contributes to transformation and policy coherence across all levels of government.
But after more than 30 years of appointing ANC loyalists to key administrative posts, it has become clear that it is wholly destructive to these values.
Skills, experience and qualifications count for little and mediocre candidates without technical or managerial competence are appointed.
They can talk until the cows come home about ‘new dawns’ and ‘moral renewal’
It has fostered corruption and patronage networks that have undermined efficient governance and adhesion to government policy.
It stifles innovation, modernisation and independent thinking necessary for any leader to respond to unique local circumstances. Cadre appointees never challenge ANC orthodoxy.
In the past months, several ANC leaders have spoken with concern about eroding party support from an electorate tired of corruption and collapsed service delivery.
But they can talk until the cows come home about “new dawns” and “moral renewal”.
Until the ANC dumps its policy of cadre deployment — which has hollowed out efficient administrative capacity — and rather appoints the best people for the job, there will be no restoration of that eroding support.
Daily Dispatch
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