The office of the Public Protector is assessing a complaint regarding the appointment of SA president Jacob Zuma’s youngest daughter to the department of telecoms.<\/p>\n
In July Zuma\u2019s daughter Thuthukile was appointed chief of staff at the department of telecommunications and postal services, with a reported salary of close to R1 million per annum.<\/p>\n
Opposition parties, and the media, pointed to an act of nepotism; also noting that the position was never advertised; while highlighting her age – only 25 – and her apparent lack of experience for the position.<\/p>\n
According to eNCA<\/a>, the office of the Public Protector received a complaint about the posting, and is currently assessing whether or not public protector, Thuli Madonesela, would be investigating the matter.<\/p>\n “Once the assessment team has done its assessment of the complaint, it will be sent to her for a decision,” Madonsela’s spokeswoman, Kgalalelo Masibi, told eNCA.<\/p>\n The complaint reportedly questions the processes followed in the appointment, and whether Zuma has the required qualification for the position.<\/p>\n The telecoms department said that Zuma was hired after consideration was given to her capacity for the position.<\/p>\n \u201cThe minister only considered her capacity to do the job and her qualifications. Her genealogy was never a consideration,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n Thuthukile Zuma has an honours degree in anthropology from the University of the Witwatersrand and previously worked at the State Security Agency as a public liaison officer.<\/p>\n According to the 2014 Estimates of National Expenditure, the chief of staff will manage a R4.1m budget in the telecommunications and postal services ministry.<\/p>\n The chief of staff post is seen as a very powerful position, with the incumbent responsible for the overall management of staff, and the office\u2019s budget in the ministry.<\/p>\n Give Zuma\u2019s daughter a chance: Mantashe<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n No rules broken in Zuma daughter appointment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Telecoms department defends Zuma daughter post<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on the ANC<\/h3>\n