Motshekga is wrong about Manyi 

The ANC Chief Whip, Mathole Motshekga, has sought to defend President Zuma's appointment of Jimmy Manyi to the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) board, on the grounds that he "was never found guilty of any misconduct". 

Mr Motshekga appears to have conveniently forgotten that, in September 2011, the Public Protector found that Mr Manyi had a conflict of interest whilst serving as Director-General of the Department of Labour, and that he failed to comply with the relevant rules and Code of Conduct in managing this effectively. 

The Public Protector recommended that "a permanent change (be made) to some or all of Mr Manyi's responsibilities."

In June 2010 Manyi was suspended as Director-General in the Department of Labour following a complaint that he used an official meeting to promote his private interests. 

In February 2011, Mr Manyi was deployed to the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), apparently without an investigation by the Labour Department into his conduct being concluded. 

The MMDA Act states that an individual who has, "as a result of improper conduct, been removed from an office of trust", may not be appointed as a board member. The evidence seems to suggest that Mr Manyi was removed from his position at the Labour Department because of his poor management of his conflict of interest. 

It is clear that the decision to appoint Mr Manyi to the MDDA board threatens the integrity of this Agency and raises serious questions about the President's judgment. The Democratic Alliance (DA) will continue to push for a full investigation into Mr Manyi's appointment to the MDDA board. 

Statement issued by Natasha Michael MP, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, January 19 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter