Cadre deployment as a tool for operating state machinery

By: Hadebe Hadebe

In a recent interview, newly elected chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi defended cadre deployment by stating that Justice Raymond Zondo is a beneficiary of cadre deployment. He went on to argue that the ANC uses its majority in parliament and particularly in the JSC to recommend who can be appointed as the chief justice.

In 2020, Jacob Zuma claimed that he met Justice Zondo to discuss transformation of judiciary and how not to jeorpardise his ascendency in the judiciary. Lesufi appears to corroborate what Zuma said at the time.

Cadre deployment is a living reality in politics and appointments in senior roles in state administration, including the judiciary, do not occur outside the influence of the people in power when they are made.

Basically, I agree with Panyaza, the ANC runs the state and generally puts people who are aligned or amenable to its policies. The majority of senior public servants have to implement its vision.

Whether we call this cadre deployment or something else, the fact remains that ANC has a final word when it comes to all public appointments.

Many individuals who serve at the different areas of the state such as judges, including Zondo, have a right to do so but we know they cannot be absolutely correct.

The issue now is that everyone wants to be on the right side of the argument. The ruling narrative is to criminalise the ANC rule and its ways (i.e., cadre deployment in particular) as if they different or unique, whereas these practices are found all over the world.

Just an example, one of the ANC’s dominant policies to date is transformation and setting targets to achieve some form of parity. The likes of Zondo benefit from this policy and or have to apply it.

Anyone who disagrees with argument would be showing shallow understanding of state machinery, and how the ruling political parties attempt to shape especially through interpretation of existing laws or by creating new ones. Unless individuals do as they wish to please other interests they can refute what Lesufi says.

Zondo, for instance, has to come out clear if in all the years serving in the highest court did or does not drive transformation with the institution and without it.

My view is that we can blame the ANC for all its faults but we certainly cannot acusse it of any wrong when it comes influencing the behaviour of the state to respond in a particular manner because it is merely exercing its power like any party in charge would do. From the US and Brazil to China and Germany, cadre deployment is indispensable.

It is neoliberal fallacy and jargon to argue that “civil servants serve the government of the day”. Maybe this saying applies to low level and non-strategic positions in the state, but in senior positions only people with agreeable ideas are allowed to lead.

For example, the DA in the Western Cape and where it is in charge has its trusted soldiers driving its political ideology.

There is nothing wrong with that.

Maybe those who argue against cadre deployment should separate ill-intent from standard political practice as it occurs all over the world. Unless, someone tells me that the ANC is not a political party, it is definitely not wrong to utilise cadre deployment to advance its ideology (whatever it is).

The narrative exists to serve nefarious ends.

Justice Zondo could be disingenuous in his conclusion let alone his overreach when he made damning findings against cadre deployment. He maintains that cadre deployment violates sec 195 of the Constitution (which states that appointments must be based on competence, fainess and objectivity) and sec 196 in terms of which the Public Service Commission is established.

In my opinion, this is absolute gutter since politics is about bring the pork barrel home.

The ANC, like the DA and other parties, have a clearly defined section or sections of the South African public they seek to please, either voters or capital. They customise their policies according to their needs, and it is only through the people they appoint know how to do this.

This kind of political bullocking reared its ugly head in the French foreign service where career diplomats opposed the Macron administration’s move which seek to end “French professional diplomacy”. Taking cue from Washington, Paris also wants the head of state to appoint ambassadors at diplomatic missions.

Nonetheless, it also came as a shock when former finance minister Trevor Manuel in the ANC cabinet advised the organisation to abandon its cadre deployment policy. Political analyst Clyde Ramalaine describes Manuel as “the signpost of Coloured benefit and cadre deployment”.

The same Manuel blasted the DA in November 2021 for replacing his late friend and former MK operative Sidima Kabanyane as the Drakenstein municipal manager with one of its loyal servants. The ANC and the DA, particularly in Johannesburg, fight over securing their respective appointees since the latter took over after the last government elections.

The position on cadre deployment is a flavour of the month to condemn the ANC, and black rule in general, as ninconpoops and buffoons to support the ‘sate capture’ and corruption drivel. Zondo, Manuel and others in the ANC embrace this ‘new’ thinking to gain acceptance into certain places – it is in their instincts to chang colour to adjust to the outside temperature.

Without cadre deployment it would be difficult for a political party to advance its ideology, policy and programmes. Opposition to thereto goes against the famous virtues of neoliberalist ideology in elections and democracy where voters supporters vote for parties with best manifestos. If they don’t implement what they promised, they face criticism and even prospects of losing in the next elections.

It is for the reason that democracy is termed an illusion characterised by “hope and regret”. People cast votes today and later get disillusioned in a vicious circle of unfulfilled promises.

ANC chair Paul Mashatile may have understood the brief when he said “we do want to keep the ANC position below 50%, even in national elections.”

The current drive to take power from the ANC is occuring through undemocratic means which began with the court ruling concerning independent candidates for the position of state president, and now the unscrambling of how it appoints its favoured people to drive its agenda.

Surely, whomever that will takeover from the ANC will realise how this will render them incapable of running and influencing the direction of the state.

The debate on cadre deployment is misleading since it is assumed that it cannot consider issues of merit, fairness and performance. China’s eloquence and record in the deployment of capable Communist Party lieutenants speaks for itself.

Siya yi banga le economy!