By Neelam Rahim

There is a call for cadre deployment to be scrapped, while the ANC says it will go to court to defend it. The Ethics Institute says cadre deployment was once necessary, but it is no longer required. The Institute is busy with a Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative to facilitate a national dialogue on ethical leadership in local government, culminating in developing a Code for Ethical Governance in local government.

In discussion with Radio Islam International is the Ethics Institute’s, Fatima Rawat.

According to Fatima, these political parties adopt the cadre deployment policy to ensure their strategic objectives are perpetuated in the organization for implementation purposes.

She says the intention is that the cadre should be deployed into those high-level strategic positions to ensure that the policies of the party are then seen in terms of the implementation perspective.

The challenge then becomes that it is not really what we see on the ground, and there is a disjuncture between the policy’s intention and the actual implementation.

Fatima said in 1994, when the cadre came out, was the idea that a cadre would deploy to transform the racially skewed public administration. One wanted to ensure that ratio divides started to change the face of the public sector. But today, the whole notion of cadre deployment is entirely different from its original intention. 

“Our research shows a destructive use of cadre deployment and very far from its original intent. Our research also shows that corruption is one of the predominant causes.”

According to Fatima, direction nationally through the National Develop Plan and the professionalization framework for the public service has been received. 

She says the call is being made to change the appointment processors. 

Reflecting on the fact that leaders set the tone, Fatima tells Radio Islam the call is for leadership processors within the public sector. 

She added that the focus is on the appointment of professionals rather than consideration for political affiliation.

For the full interview, listen to Radio Islam’s podcast below.