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Pretoria — Questions are being asked following the appointment of President Jacob Zuma’s 25-year-old daughter as the head of a Cabinet minister’s office.
Thuthukile Zuma went from a lowly public liaison officer with a Bachelor of Arts degree and an honours degree in anthropology to the powerful post of chief of staff at department of telecommunications and postal services, the Mail & Guardian reported.
She earns almost R1m a year, suggesting that a person in her position need at least a few years’ experience.
The appointment comes just months after Zuma was sworn in as president of the republic.
The M&G says it appears the post wasn’t advertised, although ministers can use their discretion to appoint someone without advertising.
Thuthukile is the youngest of the president’s four daughters with ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who is currently chairperson of the African Union.
Thuthukile refused to comment on the appointment and said all questions had to be directed to the department spokesperson. The department’s spokesperson told the newspaper that Zuma had the relevant qualifications for the position.
The presidency refused to comment on the appointment. Thuthukile came under fire in 2011 for a similar matter when she did work for her father’s party, the ANC. While the party insisted that Thuthukile and her sister, Gugulethu, were not getting paid for the work and were simply volunteering, at least one source within the party said that they were being paid for their work. — News24
derick.khumalo