President Jacob Zuma's daughter Thuthukile Zuma has quietly resigned from her post as chief of staff at the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services replaced by Frans Mthombeni
The young Zuma, whose appointment sparked an outcry from citizens and opposition parties, resigned from her position in December.
Thuthukile notified the department of her intentions to leave in August, and it was accepted by minister Siyabonga Cwele.
She has been replaced by Frans Mthombeni.
President Jacob Zuma’s daughter Thuthukile may have made history as South Africa’s youngest head of a minister’s office.
From a lowly public liaison officer to the powerful position of chief of staff within two months at the age of 25, she now earns almost a million rand a year.
Her dramatic rise to the position, which she assumed in May after the appointment of her father’s new Cabinet, has raised concerns about political nepotism at the renamed department of telecommunications and postal services.
It appears the post was never advertised, although ministers have the prerogative to make these appointments without going through the normal processes. Several departments do advertise such posts to ensure they attract the best-qualified candidates.
Thuthukile is the youngest of the president’s four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a former Cabinet minister who is currently chairperson of the African Union Commission.
Thuthukile now occupies a similar position to Lakela Kaunda, President Zuma’s chief of staff, who is considered to be one of the most powerful senior managers in the government.
‘HR procedure’
Most chiefs of staff are appointed at chief director level – earning an all-inclusive package of R934 000 – but ministers can motivate for the incumbent to be appointed as deputy director general, the second highest position in the civil service, a government official confirmed to the Mail & Guardian.
