Siphiwe Nyanda

Siphiwe Nyanda
SSA SBS CLS DMG MMS MMM

Siphiwe Nyanda, c. 1996
Nickname(s) Ghebuza[1]:14
Born (1950-05-22)22 May 1950
Soweto
Allegiance  South Africa
Service/branch South African Army
Years of service 1994 – 2005[1]
Rank General
Commands held Chief of the South African National Defence Force
Awards
  • Légion d'honneur (Commander degree - France)
  • Order of Military Merit (Brazil)
  • International Council of Military Sports Order of Merit - Officer
Relations Sheila Nyanda neé Mathabe (Wife)
Other work Minister of Communications

General Siphiwe Nyanda SSA SBS CLS DMG MMS MMM (born 1950)[2] is a South African politician, former Minister of Communications from 2009 – 2010 and South African military commander.

Military career

He joined Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress, in 1974, and served as a field commander during the liberation struggle against the South African government in the 1980s. He was appointed MK Chief of Staff in 1992, and served on the Transitional Executive Council which oversaw the change of government in 1994.

Maj Gen Nyanda became part of the South African National Defence Force, into which MK was incorporated in 1994, and served successively as Chief of Defence Force Staff (1994 – 1996), General Officer Commanding Gauteng Command (1996 – 1997), Deputy Chief of the SANDF (1997 – 1998), and Chief of the SANDF (1998 – 2005).[1]:14-15

Awards and decorations

In 1999 General Nyanda was awarded the Order of the Star of South Africa (Gold)[3]

Performance as Communications Minister

Nyanda was a controversial figure throughout the 18 months that he was minister of communications. Dubbed the “minister of luxury” by South Africa’s Mail & Guardian, Nyanda was alleged to have spent hundreds of thousands of rands living in a luxurious Cape Town hotel throughout his tenure because he was unhappy with the ministerial house appointed to him.[4]

At the same time as the allegations surrounding his living arrangements came to light, Nyanda’s private business was under scrutiny. A company, in which Nyanada’s family owned 45%, called GNS Risk Management Services (subsequently renamed Abalozi Security Risk Advisory Services) was accused of impropriety in a tender process in March 2010. Amongst its numerous clients were several parastatals, including Transnet Freight Rail, passenger train company Metrorail, state bus company Autopax, and the Gauteng provincial government.[5]

It later emerged that Transnet Freight Rail had been involved in the awarding of tenders without following the correct procedures. Amongst the tenders that were questioned was one security contract valued at ZAR55million, awarded to GNS Risk Management Services.[6] Transnet’s CEO, Siyabonga Gama, was dismissed when the allegations came to light. However, Nyanda was not reprimanded.[7]

In October 2010, Nyanda came under fire for the suspension of communications ministry director general Mamodupi Mohlala. It was reported that in July 2010, on the day that Nyanda axed Mohlala, she had reported tender irregularities worth ZAR70 million to the police for a fraud investigation and had reportedly called for disciplinary action against several senior civil servants.[8]

Nyanda fervently denied the allegations, labeling them “false, spurious and malicious”.[9] However, shortly after the story regarding the removal of Mohlala came out, Nyanda was removed from his position in the Ministry of Communications.[10] Despite the numerous suggestions of political impropriety, Nyanda was subsequently appointed as a parliamentary counselor to President Jacob Zuma, a position he holds today.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mofokeng, Maj Gen Mohato Dan (June 2005). "Farewell to a determined military leader with a clear vision" (PDF). SA Soldier. RSA Department of Defence. 12 (6): 14–16. ISSN 1609-5014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Gen Siphiwe Nyandapublisher=Sabinet Online". Sabinet Law.
  3. ↑ http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/orders/recipients/1999.htm
  4. ↑ Mapiloko, Jackie; Underhill, Glynnis (12 March 2010). "When in Cape Town Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda lives a five-star life at the city's top hotels -- courtesy of the taxpayer.". Mail & Guardian.
  5. ↑ "Siphiwe Nyanda reminds me why we're doing this". South African corruption project. Archived from the original on August 4, 2010.
  6. ↑ Basson, Adriaan (29 January 2010). "Nyanda Inc makes millions from govt". Mail & Guardian.
  7. ↑ "Transnet: Gama is out". Mail & Guardian. 29 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "Nyanda fumes at allegations over corruption". Mail & Guardian. 17 October 2010l.
  9. ↑ "Nyanda lashes out 'false, malicious' report". Mail & Guardian. 15 July 2010.
  10. ↑ Pillay, Verashni; Webb, Boyd (31 October 2010). "Zuma replaces seven ministers in reshuffle". Mail & Guardian.
  11. ↑ "Nyanda to be Zuma's Parliamentary counsellor". Mail & Guardian. 25 November 2010.
Government offices
Preceded by
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (Acting)		 Minister of Communications
2009 – 2010 		Succeeded by
Roy Padayachie
Military offices
Preceded by
Gen Georg Meiring		 Chief of the SANDF
1998 – 2005 		Succeeded by
Gen Godfrey Ngwenya
New title
New Post
 Deputy Chief of the SANDF
1997 – 1998 		Succeeded by
Unknown
Vacant
Title last held by
Pierre Steyn in 1993		 Chief of Defence Force Staff
1994 – 1996 		Succeeded by
Unknown
Party political offices
Preceded by
Chris Hani		 Chief of Staff Umkhonto weSizwe
1992 – 1994 		Integrated into SANDF
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/8/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.