The least of Jacob Zuma's worries - if he becomes president after the
general election - will be keeping out of jail.
Instead, he faces the monumental administrative headache of having to fill key
government and judicial posts to keep the country running - and properly
defended - with a parliament filled with predominantly brand new MPs on either
side.
The country's top judges are on the brink of retirement, there is neither a
national police commissioner nor a national prosecuting chief - in fact even the
Presidency doesn't have a full-time director-general.
On top of this, the ANC and its alliance partners intend to radically overhaul
the security and the criminal justice system in what is fast shaping up to be
the second power shift since 1994.
The ANC's allies - particularly the SA Communist Party - want to "clean up" the
National Security Council - a body of security chiefs headed by the president.
Surprisingly, controversial arms tycoon Fana Hlongwane - who was recently raided
by the Scorpions - has apparently been tasked with head-hunting the next police
commissioner.
There is already talk among the ANC's NEC that controversial former spy chief
Billy Masetlha could replace Jackie Selebi as national police commissioner.
Masetlha - fired by Thabo Mbeki for allegedly fabricating intelligence e-mails -
was this week cleared by the Commercial Crime Court. However, Safety and
Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa wants a highly skilled administrator from the
private sector.
"We want someone who can run the police service like a business organisation.
Closed-circuit cameras in the cities are run by municipalities and not the
police. The days of patrolling borders with a van and a knobkerrie are over - we
need high-tech methods to combat cross-border crime," said one official, who did
not have much respect for Masetlha's capability.
Zuma will also have to replace prosecutions chief Vusi Pikoli, if parliament
ratifies President Kgalema Motlanthe's dismissal, with some pushing for former
Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, who was also stung by Pikoli's Scorpions.
Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe is disliked by
the ANC due to his insistence on charging Zuma.
"We will insist that Ramatlhodi be sent to head the NPA. That institution has
been used to persecute ANC leaders and we need someone who will bring an end to
all of that," said an NEC source.
Other posts to be filled in the security council include the National
Intelligence Agency director-general, because the ANC, especially the radicals,
are not happy with the incumbent, Manala Manzini, who was seen as Mbeki's man.
Tim Dennis's contract at the SA Secret Services will end next year. Speculation
is also rife that South Africa's top judge, Chief Justice Pius Langa, could
retire in April due to ill health, while three other judges are due to end their
terms in September.
If Justice Langa retires early, it will mean that Motlanthe, and not a new ANC
government under Zuma, will appoint the most important judge in the country.
It would also save the new chief justice the potential embarrassment of being
appointed by a man who could well be on trial for corruption, irreparably
harming the image of an independent judiciary.
Although conventionally the chief justice's deputy is his successor, this is no
guarantee for Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who burnt his bridges with
the post-Polokwane ANC last year.
With acknowledgements to
Caiphus Kgosana, Angela Quintal
and The Star.
This will not be a headache, this will be a pleasure.
There only a few dozen key posts to fill and there are certainly enough brown
nosers already in the wings to fill them.
Unlike someone like Ronald Reagan who was not an excellent administrator, but
ensured that he on the whole made good selections, in the instant case such
selections are going to be made on the basis of cronyism and nepotism and
bumiputerianism.