Bathabile Dlamini

Bathabile Dlamini (born 10 September 1962) be South African politician wey be de President of de African National Congress (ANC) Women's League from 2015 to 2022. She be Minister insyd de Presidency for Women from 2018 to 2019 den Minister of Social Development from 2010 to 2018.

A social worker by training, Dlamini rise to national political prominence insyd de ANC Women's League, where she be Secretary General from 1998 to 2008. She sanso be a Member of Parliament between 1994 den 2004. Insyd 2006, she be convicted of having defraud Parliament insyd de Travelgate scandal. She first elect to de ANC National Executive Committee insyd 2007 den become an outspoken supporter of former President Jacob Zuma, who appoint ein to ein cabinet. Although she serve briefly as Minister for Women under Zuma ein successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, she remove from de cabinet after de May 2019 general election den resign from de National Assembly de following month.

As Social Development Minister, Dlamini be a central figure insyd de 2017 social grants crisis which nearly disable de South African Social Security Agency den social welfare system. De Constitutional Court den an official inquiry into ein conduct both conclude dat ein personal negligence contribute to de crisis. Insyd April 2022, she sanso convict of perjury for having lie under oath during de inquiry. Insyd de same month, she remove as President of de ANC Women's League when de ANC disband de league ein leadership corps on de grounds dat it exceed ein five-year term. Ein perjury conviction sanso disqualify ein from stand for election to a fourth five-year term on de ANC National Executive Committee.

 Early life den career 
Dem born Bathabile Olive Dlamini on 10 September 1962 insyd Nquthu insyd what be then Natal province, now part of KwaZulu-Natal. She grow up insyd Matshensikazi, near Nkandla, den insyd Imbali, a township outside Pietermaritzburg. Insyd 1983, she be a founding member of Imbali Youth Organisation, a civic organisation affiliate to de United Democratic Front. She join de South African National Students Congress, anoda Congress-align organisation, insyd 1985. Insyd 1989, she graduate from de University of Zululand plus a Bachelor of Arts insyd social work. From 1991 to 1993, she work as a social worker at a non-governmental organisation for de physically disable call de Pietermaritzburg Cripples Association.

During de same period, from 1991, Dlamini be part of de interim regional leadership of de African National Congress (ANC) Women's League (ANCWL) insyd de Natal Midlands. De ANC recently be unban by de apartheid government den de interim leadership be task plus rebuild de organisational structures of de ANCWL insyd South Africa. She formally elected as de Regional Secretary of de ANCWL insyd de Natal Midlands insyd 1992 den hold dat position until December 1993, when she elect Deputy Secretary General of de national ANCWL, serve under Secretary General Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

 Parliamentary career 
Insyd South Africa ein first post-apartheid election insyd 1994, Dlamini elect as a Member of de National Assembly, de lower house of de new South African Parliament. Between then den 2004, she serve on de Portfolio Committees of Correctional Services den Social Development. Simultaneously, she be Secretary General of de ANCWL, a position which she hold from 1998 to 2008.

 Travelgate 
Insyd 2005, Dlamini be one of de politicians implicate by de Scorpions insyd South Africa ein Travelgate scandal, which concern de abuse of parliamentary travel vouchers. De National Prosecuting Authority allege dat Dlamini use parliamentary travel vouchers – designate for air travel expenses only – to cover de costs of hotel accommodation, car rentals, den oda benefits. De following year, insyd October 2006, she plead guilty to fraud insyd relation to an amount of R254,000 den be sentenced to a R120,000 fine or ten years' imprisonment plus five years suspend. She pay de fine.

 Party positions 
After ein conviction, Dlamini retain ein position as ANCWL Secretary General, have elect to a second five-year term insyd 2003. She sanso become involve insyd de foundation of de Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa, launch insyd 2006. Insyd de ANC, Dlamini – unlike de rest of de ANCWL leadership, then head by Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula – be a strong supporter of ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who ultimately succeed insyd oust Thabo Mbeki from de ANC presidency at de party ein 52nd National Conference insyd December 2007. At de same conference, Dlamini elect to a five-year term on de National Executive Committee of de mainstream ANC, den she simultaneously serve on de party ein National Working Committee.

At de conclusion of ein term as ANCWL Secretary General, Dlamini stand to succeed Mapisa-Nqakula as ANCWL President, but insyd July 2008 she defeat insyd a vote by Angie Motshekga. However, Dlamini elect to an ordinary seat on de ANCWL National Executive Committee. Insyd 2008, she sanso work as a full-time employee of de ANC as a sectoral work co-ordinator insyd de office of newly elect ANC President Zuma.

 Career insyd cabinet 

 Ministry of Social Development: 2009–2018 
Dlamini re-elect to a seat insyd de National Assembly insyd de 2009 general election, which sanso see Zuma elect as President of South Africa. On 11 May 2009, Zuma appoint ein Deputy Minister of Social Development under Minister Edna Molewa. She serve as Deputy Minister until 31 October 2010, when Zuma announce a cabinet reshuffle insyd which Dlamini replace Molewa as Minister of Social Development.

Dlamini remain insyd de social development portfolio for de rest of Zuma ein presidency, secure appointment to ein second cabinet after de 2014 general election. As Minister, she chair de inter-ministerial committees on gender-based violence, combat substance abuse, den early childhood development. During ein tenure, de gender-based violence committee launch de Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, a 24-hour call centre which counsel victims of gender-based violence.

 Ministerial expenses 
Insyd June 2016, de opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) criticise Dlamini argue dat social grant recipients suppose to survive on a monthly payment of R753, point out dat she einself spend R11,000 on a short stay insyd a luxury hotel insyd Umhlanga Rocks. Later dat year, de Sunday Times report dat de Department of Social Development spend R1.3 million on Dlamini ein ministerial vehicle, a BMW 740i, as well as R1.1 million on a Jeep Grand Cherokee for ein deputy, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu; both expenditures exceed de National Treasury ein procurement limit for official vehicles.

Insyd May 2017, under question by Parliament ein Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Dlamini admit dat de South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pay from ein budget to hire private security for ein children, according to ein because of various threats to de children ein safety. Insyd 2018, Dlamini ein successor as Social Development Minister, Susan Shabangu, report dat SASSA spend just over R2 million on dis protection services insyd de 2014/2015 financial year den dat de department undertake steps to recoup de money spend.

 Grants crisis 
Insyd 2014, de South African Constitutional Court rule dat SASSA follow an improper tendering procedure insyd arrange a contract plus a private company, Cash Paymaster Services, which be hired to distribute South Africa ein social grants (at dat time worth R10 billion each month) to beneficiaries. De court declare de Cash Paymaster Services contract invalid den order SASSA to rerun de tender process. When de process rerun, SASSA extend de Cash Paymaster Services until 1 April 2017 but decide dat, upon de expiry of de contract, it go in-source de distribution of social grants den pay out de grants einself. However, by mid-March 2017, SASSA no prepare to take over grants distribution nor find an alternative service provider, raise fears – dismiss by Dlamini, SASSA ein political custodian – dat grants no go pay insyd April, plus disastrous effects for de 17 million residents dependent on them. De crisis ameliorate on 17 March, when de Constitutional Court respond to an application by Black Sash (join by Corruption Watch, de South African Post Office, den others) den order SASSA to extend de contract plus Cash Paymaster Services for anoda year.

During de crisis, President Zuma defend Dlamini, dismiss calls to fire ein den say dat ein performance insyd de matter no fit evaluate until de 1 April deadline pass. However, Dlamini be widely criticise for ein inaction insyd de months den years before de contract ein expiry, as well as for ein handling of de media during de crisis. She claim dat she no take action earlier because it no be until October 2016 dat she become aware dat SASSA no prepare to implement de propose takeover. Insyd de 17 March judgement, write by Justice Johan Froneman plus de full bench concur, de Constitutional Court single out Dlamini as partly personally responsible for cause de crisis den conclude dat she, as de Minister responsible for SASSA, be "ultimately responsible" for de crisis insyd ein entirety. Echo de sentiment express by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng during oral arguments, Froneman write dat "there be no indication... dat [Dlamini] show any interest insyd SASSA ein progress" until late 2016. Indeed, constitutional law expert Pierre de Vos say dat de judgement contain "de most scathing criticism of a member of de executive dat I ever see".

De Constitutional Court subsequently appoint retire judge Bernard Ngoepe to conduct an official inquiry into Dlamini ein personal role den conduct insyd de crisis. Insyd May 2018 – by which time Dlamini leave de Social Development portfolio – Ngoepe report back to de court dat Dlamini ein conduct as Minister be "reckless" den "grossly negligent". Insyd September of dat year, on de basis of Ngoepe ein report, de court rule unanimously dat part of de responsibility for de grants crisis be due to Dlamini, who be personally negligent. She serve plus a personal cost order den instruct to pay 20% of de legal costs insyd de case dat be brought earlier by Black Sash. De Ngoepe inquiry den relate Constitutional Court finding sanso lead ultimately to Dlamini ein criminal conviction on a charge of perjury.

 Absenteeism 
During den after de grants crisis, Dlamini be harshly criticised by oda Members of Parliament, include insyd de ANC caucus, for ein non-attendance at meetings of parliamentary committees which seek to probe de crisis. Ein attendance be very good insyd 2016 but between January den May 2017 both she den ein Deputy Minister miss six of nine committee meetings at which demma presence be expect. Among oda meetings insyd 2017, Dlamini fail to appear at a Standing Committee on Public Accounts meeting about SASSA ein poor audit performance den plans for de grants switchover, den later she fail to appear at two separate meetings about ein Department ein 2017/2018 annual budget den performance plan.

 President of de ANC Women's League: 2015–2022 
Insyd de early hours of 8 August 2015, at de ANCWL ein national elective conference insyd Pretoria, Dlamini elect ANCWL President. She beat Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, who run for re-election, plus 1,537 votes to Motshekga ein 1,081. Dlamini sanso re-elect to de mainstream ANC ein National Executive Committee at de party ein 53rd National Conference insyd December 2012 den again at ein 54th National Conference insyd December 2017.

During Dlamini ein tenure as league president, de ANCWL become known as an outspoken supporter of controversial President Zuma. Insyd 2016, Dlamini famously tell de SABC dat senior ANC members suppose to hesitate to discuss publicly allegations of state capture under Zuma ein administration, because "All of us insyd de NEC [ANC National Executive Committee] get our smallanyana ["tiny little"] skeletons den we no want take out skeletons because all hell will break loose". Ahead of de ANC ein 54th National Conference insyd 2017, Dlamini support Zuma ein unsuccessful campaign to get Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma elect as ein successor.

Dlamini remain ANCWL President until 2022, despite elect for what be, insyd terms of de league ein constitution, a five-year term. Insyd April 2022, shortly after Dlamini ein criminal conviction, de ANC National Executive Committee announce dat it go disband de national executive of de ANCWL because de leaders exceed demma terms. De disbandment end Dlamini den oda national leaders ein terms, den leadership of de ANCWL entrust to an interim task team, pending fresh leadership elections; Dlamini no appoint to de task team.

Dlamini attempt to stage a political comeback insyd July 2023 as de Women's League hold ein first elective conference since 2015. Ein ambitions dash when it reveal dat she receive de fewest nominations for de position of president of de Women's League; she only manage to secure 258 branch nominations, far behind ein competitors Sisisi Tolashe den Thembeka Mchunu, who receive 1,564 den 796 nominations, respectively. On 23 July 2023, Tolashe be announced as de new president of de Women's League, defeat Mchunu den Dlamini plus a huge margin; Dlamini receive de fewest votes from delegates for de position, finish last plus 170 votes while Mchunu den Tolashe receive 1,038 den 1,729 votes, respectively.

 Ministry of Women: 2018–2019 
Insyd late February 2018, Zuma resign as national President den ein successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, appoint Dlamini to ein cabinet as Minister for Women, insyd which capacity she be technically a Minister insyd de Presidency. She hold dat portfolio until 25 May 2019, when, follow de 2019 general election, she remove from Ramaphosa ein cabinet. She re-elect to ein seat insyd Parliament, have rank 14th on de ANC ein party list, but she resign shortly after de election insyd June 2019.

 Perjury 
De 2018 report of de Ngoepe inquiry into de social grants crisis suggest dat Dlamini be dishonest, as well as negligent, during de crisis. Ngoepe report to de Constitutional Court dat, during de inquiry, Dlamini be highly evasive den make statements which contradict by oda evidence. Insyd particular, oda witnesses, den a copy of a letter write by Dlamini insyd 2017, strongly suggest dat Dlamini be closely involved insyd set up parallel "work streams" which report direct to ein as minister den which trench on SASSA ein functions, undermine de agency ein efficacy. Dlamini deny dis, den Ngoepe suggest dat ein denial be false den self-serving.

Insyd ein September 2018 judgement, de Constitutional Court concur plus Ngoepe dat Dlamini provide false or mislead evidence under oath, den it refer Ngoepe ein report to de National Prosecuting Authority, which it recommend suppose investigate Dlamini on a possible criminal perjury charge. DA politician Bridget Masango lay a formal complaint plus de Public Protector, allege dat Dlamini lie to Parliament insyd May 2016 when she assure de National Assembly dat SASSA take over social grants payments from April 2017; de Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, report insyd 2019 dat she can not "substantiate" Masango ein claim dat Dlamini ein promise violate de Executive Ethics Code.

 Conviction 
However, Dlamini indeed charge plus perjury den make ein first appearance insyd de Johannesburg magistrate's court on 1 September 2021. She convict of perjury on 9 March 2022. De court find dat she "knowingly den intentionally dispose of false evidence" insyd claim dat she no oversee de relevant parallel work streams. Take into account Dlamini ein 2006 conviction on anoda offence associate plus dishonesty, de court sentence ein to serve four years' imprisonment, plus two years suspend, or pay a fine of R200,000; she opt to pay de fine.

 ANC response 
Dlamini ein conviction lead to some controversy on de question of whether de ANC ein so-call step-aside rule require Dlamini to step down as ANCWL President. De ANC National Executive Committee decide dat she no personally require to step aside, though it announce dat decision while disband de entire ANCWL executive. However, insyd December 2022, de ANC ein Electoral Committee, chair by Kgalema Motlanthe, inform Dlamini dat, because she be convicted of a "serious crime", she be ineligible to stand for any ANC leadership position during de internal elections schedule for de party ein 55th National Conference. Until then, it be highly likely dat Dlamini go re-elect to de ANC National Executive Committee – de nominations process suggest dat she rank 15th by popularity among all candidates nominate for election to de 80-member body. Insyd an unsuccessful application to get de decision appeal internally, Dlamini state ein intention to take de party to court to get de decision reverse.

 Ein life matter 
Dlamini be a single mommie.

 References 

 External links 

 Ms Bathabile Dlamini at People's Assembly

Category:1968 births
Category:Human
Category:South African people
Category:Government ministers of South Africa
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Women members of de National Assembly of South Africa
Category:Women government ministers of South Africa
Category:University of Zululand alumni
Category:South African politicians dem convict of fraud
Category:South African female criminals
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2009–2014
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 2014–2019
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 1994–1999
Category:Members of de National Assembly of South Africa 1999–2004
Category:20th-century South African women politicians
Category:21st-century South African women politicians