The rise and rise of the president's right hand

[Update: The Press Council’s deputy press ombudsman, Johan Retief, found in Lakela Kaunda’s favour regarding a July 7 2010 article the Times published titled “Kaunda wins battle in the presidency – Zuma’s top aide tightens her hold as two more key officials prepare to leave”.

The ombudsman stated that Kaunda had complained that “the story is based on faceless sources who falsely portray her as a person who makes life unbearable for colleagues and who maneuvers to have them lose their jobs if they disagree with her. She also denied that the newspaper ever gave her an opportunity to comment”.

You can read the deputy press ombudsman’s findings here.]

By Suntosh Pillay

So an ex-journo who used to write for ‘Maritzburg’s daily, which I enjoy reading every morning, might actually be the neck controlling our head of state?

When a president’s chief operations officer quits, you know there’s trouble. It’s surprising news that Jessie Duarte has sent in an emotional and furious letter of resignation. She’s a government heavyweight, a powerful woman in our state machinery.

But it turns out that office politics is a lot more stressful than national politics. Apparently, she doesn’t get along with the head of the President’s Office, Lakela Kaunda. But here’s what stood out in this week’s Sunday Times front page story: Kaunda is said to be “the real power in the Presidency”.

Other than the allegations, some of which have subsequently been retracted, the questions around the power wielded by Kaunda persists.

Something’s amiss in the Union Buildings. But who exactly is Lakela Kaunda? And should we start googling her or adding her on Facebook (she has a profile, I checked).

A search on the Mail & Guardian Online popped up a measly six results for stories related to Kaunda. Nothing controversial.

A statement issued by the Presidency in July last year announced Cabinet’s approval of “Ms Kaunda” as deputy director-general and head of the Private Office of the President.
Her job description: “She will be responsible of the overall strategic and operational management of the Private Office of the President, ensuring alignment with government priorities and programmes.” Day-to-day affairs, and more.

The Rhodes journalism graduate has an impressive CV. In 1999 she became the first female editor of a daily newspaper in South Africa, Port Elizabeth’s Evening Post, in addition to chairing the South African National Editors’ Forum. She also worked at The Natal Witness in Pietermaritzburg as political correspondent and assistant editor.

She and JZ are tight. She managed his office at Luthuli House when he become ANC president; she was his spokesperson when he was SA deputy president and she was his PRO when he was MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism in KZN.

When Thabo Mbeki fired JZ in 2005, Kaunda left her post as chief director of communications in the Presidency to work in the Department of Social Development, still spin-doctoring. She commented that “it was a pleasure and honour to work with former deputy president Jacob Zuma who became a wonderful father, friend and mentor to me and many staff members”.

Meanwhile, reports of tension between Duarte and Kaunda are denied. Presidency spokesperson Vusi Mona said that “they work well together and support each other positively and constructively … Any reports to the contrary are complete fabrications”. But come on, why would the country’s highest office admit that there’s infighting in its corridors? (No, admitting it for the sake of being honest doesn’t count in political spin-doctoring).

Even last year, the M&G reported that “every statement that is issued by the presidency has to be approved by [Kaunda]. No one within the communications unit does anything without checking with her”. She was the president’s new power ranger and flexed her muscles often.

Two issues here. The first is Kaunda and the almost impossible question of finding out how much power she wields through her position in the Presidency and her close relationship with Zuma. Secondly, Duarte accuses the ruling party — her political home — of condoning bad behaviour and vilification of others, writing in her resignation letter that “the bid for leadership in 2014 (the next general election) is rendering our movement a casualty for wealth and power”.
Both issues are linked and point to — as always — the culture of political megalomania that haunts the corridors of our ruling elite.

But for now, will the real president please stand up?

Suntosh Pillay is a clinical psychologist who writes independently on social issues.