Jacob Zuma splashed out on his supersized Cabinet. His Cabinet splashed out on... well... pretty much everything from fancy cars and expensive hotel stays to a pimped out private jet.

Since the new and extended Cabinet settled into their paid-for high-security homes, they've been in the news as much for their indulgent lifestyles as for their efforts to create a 'better life for all'. Just a little better, it would seem, for some.

We take a look at Zuma's Big Spenders... ah... Big Cabinet, and dish out some awards for their performance since taking office.

Public Enterprises

This department has had a tough year ? poor Barbara Hogan, brought in from the recovering Health Department, had to deal with a set of badly-behaved parastatals. Firstly, the SABC board proved that with enough mismanagement any parastatal can crash and burn and get bailed out yet again by the taxpayer.

More recently, Eskom has been trying very hard to outdo the SABC on the self-destruction front. The company struggled to get rid of their CEO Jacob Maroga, who appeared to be glued to his chair. Their chairman Bobby Godsell chose to step down because of this and, finally, Maroga followed suit.

The hamstrung energy utility thought it would be a good idea to appoint new leadership from the country's other major (and, it almost goes without saying, struggling) parastatal ? South African Airways.

Award: Stress ball for Hogan.

Human Settlements

Having spent a considerable amount of time near the top of South Africa's 'wealthiest' list, new Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale felt the need to spend the night in a shack. Some felt this was admirable, (more cynical) others shouted PR stunt! But when he decided to buck the big-spending trend and drive his own car, he won over most of those cynics.

Tokyo Sexwale's appointment as minister has been a breath of fresh air in the department. He has been very hands on and commissioned a national audit that revealed shoddy houses in every province. Unfortunately, taxpayers will have to fork out R1.3-billion to rebuild these houses.

Award: An overnight bag for his next township stay.

Home Affairs

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma inherited a dysfunctional department ? just prior to her appointment, the British government decreed that due to rampant corruption in the department, South Africans would now need visas to travel to the UK.

Dubbed Dr Fix-it, Dlamini-Zuma was all set to root out corruption and transform the much-maligned department, dropping in unannounced on Home Affairs offices around the country. However, a tragic incident in which a man committed suicide when he was denied an ID book and a parliamentary acknowledgement that the department has no idea how many illegal immigrants are currently in the country, has raised the question of whether Dr Fix-it is up for the job.

Award: A vuvuzela to blow out the corrupt culprits.

Education

What do Blade and Angie have in common? No, no, not shaping young minds. They both love expensive cars and Angie's proved that she won't shy away from a good party.

Recently, she admitted that OBE has failed in many ways (as if we didn't already know that) and has proposed that we go back to teaching basics. Hmm? now there's a novel idea.

BMW Blade ? a communist enjoying capitalist perks ? saw red when Professor Jansen proposed forgiveness for the 'Reitz Four'. Nzimande made it clear that he did not support the decision when he tried to block their re-admittance into the university.

Award: Red socks for Blade and a party hat for Angie.

Sports & Recreation

Apparently, we have a sports minister. Admittedly, you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise for all the guidance that Makhenkesi Stofile has shown over the past year. We suspect someone forgot to tell him that the game of hide-and-seek was over.

While he was hiding: Caster Semenya was hauled humiliatingly over the coals; ASA president Leonard Chuene dragged SA athletics through the mud; the Springboks won pretty much every trophy available to them (despite persistent efforts from the political class); and Bafana Bafana got (yet another) new coach. Well, sort of.

Award: A red card.

Police

If Makhenkesi Stofile is playing hide-and-seek, Nathi Mthethwa and his deputy Fikile Mbalula are playing cops and robbers. Or, perhaps cowboys and criminals. It's hard to tell.

When he's not encouraging trigger-happy cops, Nathi's living the good life. "Mr Pimp my Ride" went a bit overboard during a hotel stay in his hometown, that racked up a bill of R570 000; he also thought it necessary for the department to buy a jet. Yes, that's right, a R150-million jet. Apparently, it's a must-have for cowboys.

Award: A shiny sheriff's badge.

Health Department

Earlier this year, doctors downed tools calling for better salaries and improved working conditions. The government promised to implement the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD). Doctors went back to work and the conditions remained pretty much the same.

Despite the government's inability to manage the current system, it is mulling the introduction of a National Health Insurance scheme.

If anything, we can be glad that under the new health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, the denialist HIV/Aids policies of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang have been relegated to the past.

Award: A blood-pressure monitor.

Finance

Pravin Gordhan had to fill Trevor Manuel's big shoes when he was appointed Finance Minister earlier this year. Putting his money where his mouth is, he opposed a salary increase for Cabinet members, but he was out-voted by his comrades. Analysts have also praised him for a realistic approach during the recession.

Award: A piggy bank.

If you had the chance to dish out some awards, what would you be giving our ministers?