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Viewing cable 09PRETORIA1955, SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 20-25

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09PRETORIA1955 2009-09-25 16:15 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Pretoria
VZCZCXRO4636
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSA #1955/01 2681615
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 251615Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9689
RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 7171
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 1257
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 9538
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 001955 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KDEM PGOV ASEC SF POL PAS ECON
SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA POLITICAL NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 20-25 
 
PRETORIA 00001955  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1. (SBU) Written in partnership with the Open Source Center's 
Pretoria Bureau, the POL newsletter is open to contributions from 
officers in the Embassy or in the Consulates who wish to highlight 
political trends.  Contact Madeline Seidenstricker or Jonathan 
Smallridge for more information, or to make contributions.  The 
newsletter also is available on the Political Section's blog, "A 
View from South Africa," found on intelink.gov. 
 
------------- 
Domestic News 
------------- 
 
COSATU Presses ANC for Ruling Alliance Summit 
2. (U) At the annual Congress of the Congress of South African Trade 
Unions (COSATU), COSATU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi called for 
the withdrawal of a Green Paper on Strategic Planning tabled by the 
Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.  COSATU accused Manuel of 
over-stepping his authority and marginalizing ruling alliance 
members COSATU and the South African Communist Party (SACP).  COSATU 
charged that the former finance minister's plans, if implemented, 
would make Manuel the country's de-facto Prime Minister.  The 
African National Congress National Executive Committee (ANC NEC), 
which had previously endorsed the Green Paper, agreed to a ruling 
alliance (ANC-COSATU-SACP) summit  to discuss the document. (The 
Times, September, 20, 2009) 
 
Suspension of Local Officials Compounds Service Delivery Problems 
3. (U) According to an analysis done by the Cooperative Governance 
and Traditional Affairs department, the mass suspension of top 
officials following a wave of service delivery protests has harmed 
service delivery.  The analysis shows that the suspension of senior 
staffers without immediate replacement has affected service delivery 
targets in affected municipalities.  Cooperative Governance and 
Traditional Affairs departmental spokesman Simphiwe Kunene told 
local media that on the basis of these findings, his department 
would provide experts and support to strengthen the capacities of 
all under staffed municipalities by December. (The Times, September, 
25, 2009) 
 
Defense Minister Appoints Military Service Commission; Bows to 
Pressure to Keep Military Unions 
4. (U) Minister of Defense and Military Veterans Lindiwe Sisulu 
announced on September 21 the appointment of a ten-member Military 
Service Commission to regulate the conditions of service of all 
South African National Defense Force (SANDF) personnel.   Sisulu 
announced that the Military Service Commission will be chaired by 
High Court Judge Ronnie Bosielo, who would assist in developing new 
military standards for salaries, recruitment, transfers, promotions 
and dismissals.  Sisulu insisted that the commission would not 
replace military unions but would create a separate bargaining 
chamber for soldiers.  Commission members include United Democratic 
Front Leader Bantu Holimisa, Freedom Front Plus MP Pieter 
Groenewald, and ANC MP Hlengiwe Mgabadeli. 
 
Controversial Judge Hlophe Fails to Secure Constitutional Court 
Nomination 
5.  South Africa's Judicial Service Commission put an end to months 
of controversy and agonized debate on the politicization of the 
judiciary when it released its short list of candidate for the 
Constitutional Court.  The name of Cape Judge President John Hlophe, 
accused of lobbying the court on behalf of then-ANC President Jacob 
Zuma, who then faced corruption charges, was not among the seven 
candidates recommended for appointment to South Africa's highest 
court (Pretoria News, September 22. 
------------------ 
Q------------------ 
International News 
------------------ 
 
 
 
UNGA, G-20, Africa-South America Summit 
 
6.  (U) President Jacob Zuma, supported by International Relations 
and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Water and 
Environmental Affairs Minister, Buyelwa Sonjica, Health Minister, 
Aaron Motsoaledi and Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Nkosazana 
Dlamini-Zuma and Senior Government officials, led South Africa's 
delegation to the 64th Session of the United Nations General 
Assembly (UNGA) in New York from September 21 - 25. Minister Nkoana 
Mashabane left New York to attend the Second Africa - South America 
Ministerial meeting in Venezuela on September 24 - 25, to be joined 
by President Zuma for the summit scheduled to take place from 
September 26 - 27. (DIRCO Briefing, September 24) 
 
 
South Africa- Iran Ministerial Working Group 
 
7.  (U) DIRCO Deputy Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim will lead a 
South African delegation to the fourth meeting of the SA- Iran 
 
PRETORIA 00001955  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Deputy Ministerial Working Group scheduled to take place on 
September 28 - 29.   Ebrahim's visit comes within the context of 
South Africa's commitment to cooperation with Iran especially in 
trade and economic matters within the framework of South-South 
Cooperation.  The fourth SA-Iran Ministerial Working Group meeting 
will discuss the following issues: bilateral and economic relations 
between two countries; developments in Africa and the Middle East 
and regional cooperation; human rights, social and health issues; 
international cooperation, trade and security. (DIRCO Briefing, 
September 25) 
 
Gips