Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

In December 2022, Dlamini-Zuma voted with the opposition in favour of adopting the Section 89 panel report on Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala affair, contrary to the ANC's voting instruction. The party announced disciplinary proceedings against her and other dissenting MPs.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

As minister responsible for disaster regulations, Dlamini-Zuma prohibited tobacco sales for several months during the 2020 lockdown. Industry participants and consumers challenged the measure. The Western Cape High Court concluded that it was unnecessary and unconstitutional; in June 2022, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed the minister's appeal and upheld the restriction's invalidity.

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Political responsibility

In June 2020, the Pretoria High Court declared numerous Level 3 and 4 lockdown rules irrational, unconstitutional and invalid, targeting regulations promulgated under Dlamini-Zuma's authority. The government appealed. In July 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the broad decision, particularly because the initial application had not properly challenged each rule and the judgment exceeded the scope of the proceedings.

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Political responsibility

During and after her 2017 campaign for ANC president, articles alleged financial links to tobacco businessman Adriano Mazzotti and other controversial supporters. A photograph and funding accounts fuelled the controversy.

While Dlamini-Zuma was Home Affairs Minister, the Dalai Lama's visa application to attend Desmond Tutu's birthday in 2011 remained undecided until the visit was cancelled. In November 2012, the Supreme Court of Appeal concluded that the decision had been deliberately delayed and that the procrastination was unlawful.

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Political responsibility

Dlamini-Zuma publicly supported Virodene, a highly controversial experimental HIV/AIDS treatment, while the Medicines Control Council refused to authorise trials. Two senior MCC officials removed following the conflict were subsequently reinstated by a labour arbitrator, who criticised the purge of the regulator.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

During her term as Health Minister, the department committed more than 14 million rand to the musical Sarafina II, intended to promote HIV/AIDS prevention. The project became a scandal because of flawed procurement procedures, unauthorised expenditure and incorrect information given to Parliament about its funding. The Public Protector criticised management of the project.

State of the evidence

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Attribution

Political responsibility