Siphiwe Nyanda

Nyanda joined Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress, in 1974, and served as a field commander during the liberation struggle against the South African government in the 1980s. He was appointed MK Chief of Staff in 1992, and served on the Transitional Executive Council which oversaw the change of government in 1994.

Major General Nyanda became part of the South African National Defence Force, into which MK was incorporated in 1994, and served successively as Chief of Defence Force Staff (1994–1996), General Officer Commanding Gauteng Command (1996–1997), Deputy Chief of the South African National Defence Force (1997–1998), and Chief of the South African National Defence Force (1998–2005).[1]^:14–15

In 1999, Nyanda was awarded the Star of South Africa, Gold.[3]

• Star of South Africa (SSA)
• Star for Bravery in Silver (SBS)
• Conspicuous Leadership Star (CLS)
• Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG)
• Merit Medal in Silver (MMS)
• Military Merit Medal (MMM)
• Unitas Medal
• Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service with 30 Year Clasp)
• Service Medal in Silver
• Service Medal in Bronze
• Legion of Merit (LOM) (Commander - USA)
• Légion d'honneur (Commander degree – France)
• Commander of the Order of Military Merit (Brazil)
• International Council of Military Sports Order of Merit – Officer

Nyanda was a controversial figure throughout the 18 months that he was minister of communications. Dubbed the "minister of luxury" by South Africa's Mail & Guardian, Nyanda was alleged to have spent hundreds of thousands of rands living in a luxurious Cape Town hotel throughout his tenure because he was unhappy with the ministerial house appointed to him.[4]

At the same time as the allegations surrounding his living arrangements came to light, Nyanda's private business was under scrutiny. A company, in which Nyanada's family owned 45%, called GNS Risk Management Services (subsequently renamed Abalozi Security Risk Advisory Services) was accused of impropriety in a tender process in March 2010. Amongst its numerous clients were several parastatals, including Transnet Freight Rail, passenger train company Metrorail, state bus company Autopax, and the Gauteng provincial government.[5]

It later emerged that Transnet Freight Rail had been involved in the awarding of tenders without following the correct procedures. Amongst the tenders that were questioned was one security contract valued at ZAR55 million, awarded to GNS Risk Management Services.[6] Transnet's CEO, Siyabonga Gama, was dismissed when the allegations came to light. However, Nyanda was not reprimanded.[7]

In October 2010, Nyanda came under fire for the suspension of communications ministry director general Mamodupi Mohlala. It was reported that in July 2010, on the day that Nyanda axed Mohlala, she had reported tender irregularities worth ZAR70 million to the police for a fraud investigation and had reportedly called for disciplinary action against several senior civil servants.[8]

Nyanda fervently denied the allegations, labeling them "false, spurious and malicious".[9] However, shortly after the story regarding the removal of Mohlala came out, Nyanda was removed from his position in the Ministry of Communications.[10] Despite the numerous suggestions of political impropriety, Nyanda was subsequently appointed as a parliamentary counselor to ex-President Jacob Zuma.[11]

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