CARMEL RICKARD: Rules are rules, even for ministers
What happened when business challenged former minister Blade Nzimande on something of huge importance to every employer and employee
It may sound odd to remind readers of this, but SA is entitled to expect more from government ministers than merely that they should not be thieves. Yes, it is a good thing when a minister doesn’t loot national funds or manipulate tenders to benefit family and friends. But actually they are also supposed to do specialised work, each leading — with vision and professionalism — a sector crucial to the wellbeing of the country. I mention this in connection with former higher education & training minister Blade Nzimande. The SACP general secretary, removed in a cabinet reshuffle last month, has no corruption allegations hanging over him. But that aside, based on a new labour appeal court judgment of huge importance to every employer and employee, you could well ask whether he was an unmitigated success in the job. There are three key things about what the minister did. In a nutshell: he decided on two bizarre new regulations, thrown out by the labour court for being "irrational and unre...
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