There is binding judicial precedent for the proposition that the practice is illegal and unconstitutional
David Lewis makes good points regarding the well-documented abuse of the overconcentration of power in the hands of the president .
The latter has wryly proposed a “commission for the appointment and dis-appointment of senior officials”. It is likely to work better than the Judicial Service Commission does if it keeps politicians off the playing fields of personnel selection and discipline. Lewis is right to suggest that HR skills and technical expertise are the relevant criteria for appointees to such a body.
Even the most cursory reading of section 195 of the constitution reveals that good human resource management, accountability and the promotion of professional ethics are among the values and principles applicable, in binding terms, to the public administration and SOEs. The appointment of persons on policy considerations is not precluded, but it should be regarded as the exception, not the rule. Untold damage has been done by limiting the personnel choices available to the ranks of only those who happen to be loyal ANC cadres to the exclusion of those who are not. A political party with a total of about 1-million members cannot possibly harbour the skills and talents needed to run a country of more than 60-million people effectively and efficiently.