General Siphiwe Nyanda (Gebuza)

Minister of Communications

Date of Birth: 22/05/1950
Place of Birth: Soweto

Biography: Recruiting Officer, ANC (underground), 1974-76; Comander, Urban Operations, 1977-79; Commander, Trasvaal Urban Machinery, 1979-83; Chief of Staff, Transvaal Command (Eastern Command), 1983-86; Commander, Border Operations, Swaziland, 1986; Deputy Head, Politico Military Underground Leadership in South Africa, 1988-90; Chief of Staff, Umkhonto we Sizwe, 1992-94; Chief, Defence Force Staff, 1994-97; General Officer Commanding, Gauteng Command, SANDF, 1997-98; Academic Registrar, SA National Defence Force, Pretoria, 1998; Chief, SA National Defence Force, 1998-05; Minister of Communications, 2009-2010.

Commentary: A close ally of Jacob Zuma, Siphiwe 'Gebuza' Nyanda was pushed out as head of the SA National Defence Force by Mbeki. He returned to prominence in 2008 when Zuma's people came to the forefront of the ANC. One of Zuma's key political allies (Zuma's surprise package) in the early days of Zuma's presidency.

He was at the forefront of Zuma's communications efforts, a leading member of the nationalist/populist and black business wing of the ANC, he has been accused of owning a 45% shareholding in Abalozi Security Risks Services, which won a R55 million contract with Transnet Freight Rail, among many others. Nyanda has introduced bills to govern broadcasting and is accused of interfering in the running of the SABC (President under pressure).

However, his relationship with Zuma soured - the President fired his incompetent former ally in November 2010, replacing him with Roy Padayachie, an ally from KwaZulu-Natal. Nyanda was suspected of moving uncomfortably closer to Sexwale and we understand that he had wanted more support from Zuma in his various controversies, including allegations that his companies have done well from state tenders.