February capped a good month for President Cyril Ramaphosa writes Justice Malala. The political commentator cites the appointments of Thembisile Majola to the post of director-general at the State Security Agency, Andrea Johnson as head of the Investigating Directorate (ID) at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the removal of Zuma appointee Khehla Sitole from his role as police commissioner effective at the end of this month as Ramaphosa finally getting a grip on law-and-order issues.
Malala writes that the president’s new appointees need to hit the ground running and ensure they are capable of handling the job while dealing with some weaker appointments that continue to hang around like that of police minister Bheki Cele.
He goes on to state that Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address was reasonable and realistic and that the president is implementing what was promised during the address while the budget speech last week was also realistic in its offering.
Yesterday, we brought you the news of Andrea Johnson’s appointment as head of the ID and today News24’s James de Villiers writes an in-depth profile on the NPA’s new top prosecutor.
De Villiers speaks with some fine legal minds to get a sense of who Johnson is and what she will bring to the job. One expert said Johnson’s experience working with the Scorpions would hold her in good stead as the experience she gained there would be invaluable for her new job at the ID.
But while it is a good experience, indeed, her predecessor Hermione Cronje also had experience working in the Scorpions and found it increasingly difficult to do what she wanted and get the results she needed after a fruitless few years in the job. It remains unclear if Johnson will receive more support now that she’s stepped into the role.
And finally, taking a look at the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Mandla Lionel Isaacs argues that our alignment with Russia stems from former support from the Soviet Union for the ANC during the Struggle but is misplaced now with no coherent analysis on the past and present political conditions.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
Consistent or confused — South Africa’s foreign policy wobbles on Ukraine invasion – Daily Maverick
EDITORIAL: On Russia, the ANC shows its moral atheism – Financial Mail
OPINION | Peter Apps: Russia increases firepower in Ukraine, Western concerns mount – News24/Reuters (for subscribers)
CAIPHUS KGOSANA | The UN has run its course. It must adapt or die – Sunday Times Daily (for subscribers)
ANC and DA using Russian invasion of Ukraine to score political points – The Citizen (for subscribers)
Why is South Africa not condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? – Mail & Guardian
Caption: President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: GCIS
