Accountability lies at the heart of our constitutional order. Yet, many South Africans and the overwhelming majority of politicians (and their apologists and enablers in academia) do not seem to believe in the muscular form of accountability envisaged by our Constitution. Despite some encouraging signs that some Parliamentary committees are grappling with ways of holding the executive and public officials to account, a culture of unaccountability still prevails.
Thus we had the ANC chief whip Mathole Motshekga recently stating that ministers should not have to appear before Scopa because “they have a country to run”. Motshekga was previously forced to clarify his statements to an ANC study group at which he told MPs he believed Scopa wanted to “parade and embarrass” ministers. This was an absurd statement demonstrating a shocking ignorance of the Constitution and displaying the kind of arrogance that is the enemy of accountability.
No wonder the Minister of Defence failed to appear before Scopa yesterday and excused herself in a letter dated last week but only delivered to Scopa before its meeting was about to start. No wonder also that Scopa chairperson, Themba Godi, yesterday lambasted Collins Chabane, Minister in the Presidency, for poor internal controls in the Presidency stating that there was:
serious concern about the level and quality of leadership in the Presidency. People get away with murder. Big and small financial offences are written off, as was the case with the National Youth Commission. These are people without any sense of responsibility, but they only get more money. There must be consequences for negligence.
No wonder also people like Julius Malema and their apologists and enablers in academia attack and smear anyone who point out the shortcomings of officials and politicians and mock their self-important and arrogant ways. Instead of applauding the diligent and patriotic manner in which some among us try and hold officials and politicians to account, such apologists and enablers cry racism and plead for “sensitivity” in handling the abuses of power, undermining of the Constitution, corruption, incompetence and laziness by politicians and state officials.
This happens because some among us do not subscribe to the model of accountability envisaged by the Constitution and wish to excuse the abuse of power and the undermining of the Constitution because of personal or ideological loyalties, personal identity hang-ups or because they stand to gain financially from defending the indefensible.
When one mocks a Minister because he or she failed to adhere to the provisions of the Constitution or the law one suddenly is branded a racist liberal. When one points out that the President should not have taken R4 million from a crook, should not have done favors for that crook and should not have lied about it, one becomes a “hater of the ANC”. When one lambast officials for dishing out tenders on the basis of connection or for looting state coffers one is branded as an opponent of transformation.
What such apologists and enablers fail to see, is that they are being profoundly unpatriotic and short-sighted and are undermining the very essence of our democratic order. In a sense, they are the true counter-revolutionaries as their actions or their silence undermine our constitutional system of democracy and accountability which, in turn, sell out the poor and destitute voters who rely on the state to provide effective and efficient services and to create conditions in which every individual will be able to reach their full potential as human beings.
Section 1 of the Constitution states that ours is a democracy based on “[u]niversal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness”. The constitution thus explicitly links democracy to accountability and underlines the importance of the latter for the flourishing of the former. Where attacks are launched against the media or whistle blowers who work to keep politicians and state officials accountable, such attacks are nothing less than an attack on democracy itself.
Section 195 of the Constitution – probably the most ignored section of the document – underscores this point. Once again it links accountability to democracy and states that:
Public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including the following principles
- A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained.
- Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted.
- Public administration must be development-oriented.
- Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias.
- People’s needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy-making.
- Public administration must be accountable.
- Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible and accurate information
The fundamental problem is that accountability becomes meaningless and the democracy is undermined when wrongdoing is covered up or, if it is exposed, those guilty of wrongdoing face no adverse consequences. A culture in which excuses are made for those who break the law, waste our money or fail to fulfill their constitutional and legal obligations (whether this is Jeff Radebe, Julius Malema or the President himself), is a profoundly anti-democratic culture. This is a culture in which no one is ever held responsible. In such a culture the belief will take root that: “because everyone else is doing it, I can also do it and get away with it.”
Of course the ultimate form of accountability is at the ballot box. But because we have a one-party dominant political system and because, for various reasons, most voters still do not believe that it is feasible to vote for anyone but the ANC, the ultimate form of accountability is not operative in our democracy. Opposition parties are either weak or lack credibility and apologists and enablers of the corrupt and the lazy do everything in their power to keep things that way.
Meanwhile ordinary citizens suffer while a few well-connected tenderpreneurs and hangers-on loot the state coffers and undermine the Constitution. Something has got to give at some point. But how and when? That is the big question to which I do not have a ready answer.
@ Pierre
“The constitution thus explicitly links democracy to accountability and underlines the importance of the latter for the flourishing of the former.”
And that is supposed to matter???
Accountability is a nice sounding buzzword but wishful thinking at best.
You may have more luck trying to convince min-bus taxi drivers that red lights are not for decoration and that rules of the road applies to them as well!
This animal called accountability seem to be evading the highest office in the land.
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1125454
Justice in action. case closed.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article370932.ece
The Portfolio committees need to have powers to proclaim officials to be in contempt if they fail to appear.
Perhaps the various accountability structures that exist should take on a more judicial tinge over all.
“Something has got to give at some point. But how and when? That is the big question to which I do not have a ready answer.”
A credible opposition would be a good start!
i think the pillars of our democracy such as the media etc, should set an example to this corrupt government by i.e
1. allow critisizing the media to be accepted as freedom of speech not an attack.
2. the accused editor should rather declare where he got his wealth and check if it was legal(to shut julius off).
We cannot allow our media to be “attacked”, but we cannot allow also our journalists to have cloud of tax evasion and corruption to hang on their heads like our government.
Pierre
With reference to your comment; “Of course the ultimate form of accountability is at the ballot box”, the following:
Having to vote another party into office in order to achieve accountability would be like having to throw the baby out with the bath water. Huge sums of money have been spent on building capacity within the ranks of the existing legislators by way of induction courses, training programs, national – and international workshops, under- and post-graduate studies etc. This would be an enormous price to pay.
Also, if we were to vote another party into office, what guarantee do we have that the new party will meet the constitutional requirements of accountability, responsiveness and openness?
Surely what we should aim for is individual accountability of legislators without concomitant rejection of the party.
The problem lies with our party list electoral system. Candidate lists are generated by party branches, but central party committees exercise final control over its composition. This means that legislators serve at the behest of party bosses and are subject to direct pressure from party leadership. The party owns the legislative seat and can move legislators in and out of the legislatures at will. This undermines the focus that members of parliament should have – on the electorate.
It the case of our ANC led government, this has resulted in bad appointments being made to Chapter 9- and other institutions – with disastrous consequences such as a failure to investigate the arms deal; oilgate; travelgate; Chancellor House; etc. It has resulted in the death of the Scorpions and Zuma being mpshed.
In short, our party list electoral system stands between us and an accountable, responsive government.
Adri Stone, accountability at the ballot box is not only about actually voting out a party – it is very much about the possibility that the party may lose the election. Nothing concentrates the mind and make people sit up and listen and work hard than the possibility of losing their power. When we vote another party into power we would be establishing the principle that one party does not have a divine right to rule – regardless of performance. The new party will know that if it fails, it will also be botted out.
I agree with you that our electoral system is less than perfect. Because we vote for a party and not an individual there is no link between representatives and the electorate – especiually given the fact that we have strickt party discipline and “deployment”. But the electoral system is not the only problem. If it was local government (where half the members are directly elected in constituencies) would not have been the mess it is.
Maggs Naidu says:
March 24, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Accountability is a nice sounding buzzword but wishful thinking at best.
You may have more luck trying to convince min-bus taxi drivers that red lights are not for decoration and that rules of the road applies to them as well!
I take exception to this comment … I drive a taxi >> Converted Toyota Quantum .. Am accountable to my passengers at all times..
Well put Prof.
The only thing I wish to add is that corruption and lack of accountability at top level is indicative of problems a grass route levels as well. At present young South Africans are being taught that any problem they face is someone elses fault. In no single area that I know of is respect for authority and rules being emphasized. The police are underfunded and under trained and as such they lack the respect of the public generally. Less said about the traffic police the better. Teachers are badly paid and are on a hiding to none if they try and enforce discipline.
In fact the only institution which I can think of which has its departments in order and which people are genuinely scared of is SARS
Ehud Olmert says:
March 24, 2010 at 16:32 pm
“I take exception to this comment … I drive a taxi >> Converted Toyota Quantum .. Am accountable to my passengers at all times..”
Hahahaha – there you go.
Now let’s see if an MP, any MP, gets upset.
Bet you five that no one will!
Pierre – you underestimate the power and influence that the “higher ranking” members have that get deployed to local government. How do you suppose Juliazz got his deals?
But be that as I may, I am interested to know from you: what are the mechanisms (other than the ballot box) that our constitution makes provision for, that empowers us ordinary people to hold to account our “elected” representatives? And why in your view do they fail us so horribly?
“elected representatives fail us horribly”,Rome was not built in one day, believe you me we will get it right,we learn from our mistakes.anc took over power with only guerilla experience and thought that it will be easy,people like them though because they do not trust the opposition and their suspicion was confirmed i.e by demolition of churches in khayelitsha.
Adri: your last paragraph, my question as well.
Prof: “Meanwhile ordinary citizens suffer while a few well-connected tenderpreneurs and hangers-on loot the state coffers and undermine the Constitution. Something has got to give at some point. But how and when? That is the big question to which I do not have a ready answer.”
Sounds to me like you are tempted to give up, that there is little we can do. Lady Justice is not pleased. Perhaps I’m out of line, but could you consider blogging a list of legal options to fight this nonsense, all within your professor style naturally.
I, for one did something today. @ http://politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=167580&sn=Detail
Signed a petition and sent a sms, and considering further donation. Perhaps it is only civil organizations who can make a difference and eventually give law back to SA.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&gid=360251387988#!/group.php?v=wall&gid=360251387988
Hierdie is die facebook site , raak betrokke !
@ Kenneth
” demolition of churches in khayelitsha.”
Kenneth is right.
I have never been a supporter of Cmd Malema. But I agree with him that “Madame” Zille’s ruthless demolition of black churches verges on a demonic manifestation of pure racism.
Ahh Fass: Not clear enough, not good enough to see the irony you speak. You can do better.
Pierre, I think you do not quite grasp that the ANC is not, on the model of Western liberal democracy, just another political party, that can be “voted” out of office willy-nilly.
The ANC is, rather, the permanent institutional organ of the liberation of the black masses. To put it another way, the ANC does more than “represent” the black majority; it is more a transcendant expression of a historic telos, the emancipatory narrative of black liberatiion, if you will. (Think Hegel.)
Democracy is our country takes the form of vigorous debate within the ANC — not “between” the ANC and racist liberals, or their black lackeys.
Thanks.
the only province DA will win(pick up on them since they are official opposition) is WC,and only through the racist tone, which is aimed at fueling the long held suspicion between coloured and africans, in 2001 (fight black, then take ANC out from western cape, then stop zuma, i can see the next one will be get “rid of malema”.
I am trying to show why opposition parties in south africa still gota long way to go, the combination of small political parties into one mega party might work and may , “save” our democracy from one party state, (though UK is basically one party state and still doing fine), but if the focus is on malema only (just like this blog),i afraid that the megaparty will be ANC.
“Something has got to give at some point. But how and when? That is the big question to which I do not have a ready answer.”
I think white people in general are afraid to be seen as racists when they advocate for actions that would shake up the government of the day. That is perfectly understandably given the attack they get whenever they voice their displeasure in the media about the way things are going.
But at some point, given their economic muscle, they will have to take a serious stand. I have read about some ratepayers refusing to pay their rates as a way of protest. This is an example of an action that would get the government to listen.
If the government officials get away with flouting the rule of law, then citizens, regardless of colour and creed ought to show their anger by taking some kind of protest that will send a very strong message to the government.
I think, the white populace, with the economic muscle can get support of the marginalized poor (especially those who are involved in delivery oriented protest actions) if they can get some cogent plan to get the government take notice.
Votes and opposition parties are at this stage futile. Protest action is the answer. A coalition of disgruntled ratepayers, the poor and marginalized with proper leadership, could get the government to act.
Of course, Pierre, would be unwise to suggest that kind of action in his forum, wouldn’t he?
Oops! : “… perfectly understandable …”
@ Mikhail Dworkin Fassbinder
With respect to churches, I wonder if there are any situations where you believe it would be acceptable to demolish a church or another religious structure? Maybe it is because I am not a religious person myself but I can think of a number of reasons (whether they apply in Khayelitsha, I do not know).
Re. your reference to ANC as the “permanent institutional organ of the liberation of the black masses”, does that mean that, no matter what ANC might choose to do in the future, ANC has an intrinsic right to run South Africa permanently? If that is so, why at all have a multiparty democracy? It is amazing, by the way, how your argumentation mirrors Mugabe’s with respect to ZANU-PF – do you also believe that ZANU-PF has some right to run Zimbabwe permanently as the “permanent institutional organ of the liberation of the black masses” in Zimbabwe?
On racist liberals and their black lackeys, is your view that everyone who opposes ANC are therefore either racist liberals or their black lackeys – or that because they are racist liberals or their black lackeys they chose to oppose ANC? In either case, that is exactly the view that would stifle any open debate in this country.
@ Kenneth
With respect to Western Cape, as far as I understand you, the only reason ANC lost Western Cape is racism? As far as I know, the ANC in Western Cape was not exactly well-functioning – have you considered that people might simply not be happy with ANC’s performance running the province?
On the use of the words African as opposed to coloured, well, in my view a person who has been living in South Africa his whole life, whose parents probably did the same and who is a South African citizen, is an African, whether his skin colour is black, brown, light brown, white etc., no matter if his ancestors came from somewhere in Africa, Asia, Europe or a mix thereof.
@ Adri Stone
I agree totally that the electoral system in SA should be changed to give more direct and individual accountability (a direct link between elected official and the voters) and, thereby, less influence to party bosses.
kenneth says:
March 24, 2010 at 21:55 pm
That the opposition parties fail to connect with voters, for various reasons, is obvious. It’s not entirely correct that the failure of the ANC in WC is raw racism – several people whom I know from the WC either voted against the ANC or did not vote in the last GE because they were fed up with the ANC there.
In any event, I and people like me will continue supporting the ANC while others will support other parties for reasons best suited to each of us.
That said, the state of affairs on many fronts ranges from tardy at best to completely out of control in the extreme.
Your comment “if the focus is on malema only” captures the lack of a clear agenda by political parties – even though Malema is now turning out to project that which the ANC is not, but seems to have become.
It’s mind boggling though, why the greatest minds within the ANC have abdicated leadership, power, political philosophy and policy interpretation to young Juju – it would seem that he has become the ANC (in the wake of Tambo, Hani, Mandela and other political giants) and if that is allowed to continue it will be difficult to continue support for this once glorious movement.
I also get confused when people talk about accountability and somehow only link it to the ANC. The DA runs a province with the highest murder rate in the world. The province has the largest inequality between rich and poor in South Africa. It has the largest informal settlement in South Africa. It has the biggest drug and gangster problem in the country. It has an education system that is failing the poor like any other province. It has a failing housing delivery problem. It has protests about the BRT system like all the other cities. Yet this is all blamed on the accountability of the ANC. Why are the DA politicians getting away with this? What I hope is that the Prof is talking about politicians in general. We shout at the top of our voices about ANC politicians living large at the expense of the poor. But we don’t see DA politicians living in Joe Slovo squatter camp. It is one thing to criticise politicians its another to blame everything on the ANC.
Thomas says:
March 25, 2010 at 8:51 am
The latest stats releast by SAPS are the murder cases investigated for the period April 2008 – March 2009:
Western Cape: 2,346
Eastern Cape: 3,260
Gauteng: 3,884
Kwazulu-Natal: 4,747
SAPS is a National Department, not run by Provincial Governments. The ANC is still in charge of SAPS in the Western Cape.
Thomas says: March 25, 2010 at 8:51 am
I agree with you Thomas. On “Why are the DA politicians getting away with this?”, I think you need to ask yourself where are you getting your information about the corrupt activities of ANC politicians? In an ideal world, this is where you should be getting information about other politicians as well but it’s not happening. Small wonder why!!
On accountability, I thought the President (a person I’m not particularly fond of – sorry Maggs) properly dealt with the questions in Parliament yesterday.
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71627?oid=167765&sn=Detail
Thank you Mzo and Thomas, but I already provided the answer previously when I said the media is biased and serves the interest of the opposition and that is why DA politicians are not held to account.
Dumisani Mkhize, I happen to think the role of social movements is critical. Our media is not very good at reporting on the work of social movements and unless there is violent protests we often do not hear what they do. Its easier to report on the latest rantings of Julius Malema. Social movement activists often face serious challenges and harassment from various quarters but they often do great work.
Mzo and Thomas, if the DA is not doing its job or if its members are corrupt, the ANC (who is in opposition in the Western Cape) should expose this (as they have done regarding the shameful toilettes without walls and the demolition of churches). But perhaps there are fewer corruption allegations against DA politicians because they have less power and thus less able to cook tenders and steal our money. The ANC holds power nationally as well as in all but one province so it is perhaps not surprising that the media report more on its activities and the problems relating to lack of service delivery and corruption associated with wielding so much power.
Prof, you seem to overlook the fact that the most effective way to “expose” anyone is through the media. You can use your organisation’s website or something like that but for your point to reach the SA’s, you need the media to put it out there. Questions is, are they putting everything out there as they should??
My personal view is that our media is not as excited about reporting about things like open toilets (wonder if those even qualify as toilets – does having a toilet seat qualify as a toile?) – something which is a fact – as opposed to reporting that Julius Malema owns a Land Rover – an allegations that is disputed at this stage.
I really believe that our media should continue to enjoy freedom but I also think only a blind person would deny the fact that our media is not the most balanced out there…..more like denying that there is corruption in the tender processes or that JZ really has some unanswered questions about his dealings with Shabir
Yep, now we know what Steve Hofmeyer and some of the crowd that went to Luthuli House recently REALLY think of SA and the black people in particular….and people still lambast Juju for telling us what is REALITY as opposed to what we are told.
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-03-25-steve-vs-juju-celebrity-death-match
@ Pierre de Vos,
First, thanks for your blogs – I find them very interesting.
Seconcly, I wonder where to get some factual, neutral and objective information on the two issues you mention.
According to DA, the toilettes story was due to a sort of understanding with the relevant inhabitants that five times as many toilettes could be build for the same amount if the inhabitants themselves supplied walls – and this was then agreed. Then someone did not manage to make the walls. So it was not to save money or anything like that. If this is the correct information, then, frankly, I do not see what all the uproar was about – of course, if it later turns out, that some inhabitants were not able to put up the necessary walls, I would assume that some action will be taken by the relevant authorities. I noticed that Helen Zille expressed regrets about this experiment.
Similar, with respect to the churches, some people say that DA-led Cape Town indiscriminately tore down churches for now good reason, whereas the DA says that the said churches had been built on land set aside for other purposes, that an inclusive process had taken place with most churches to find solutions to the competing demands for land etc.
So, how to find correct and reliable information?
Ricky
I must indicate that ministers are appearing before, parliamentary study groups, portfolio committees, and the standing committee on public accounts. So far, Collins Chabani, in the Presidency, The Minister of Correctional Services, Deputy Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and agrarian reforms had already appeared.
The Minister of Defence requested audience with the commitee and was not summonsed as you seem to suggest. The strategic purpose of this is to enable the minister to hold the accouting officers accountable for the corrective measures for the endemic infringement of public tender legislastive and regulatory regime, including the directives and or practice notes issued by national treasury form time to time.
We have a very robust SCOPA which will raise the bar of accoutability and ensure enforcement of our laws in the quest for quality service delivery to our people. There is not any contradictions in that. The minister will not be called every time but were there is gross violations that require high level political intervention.
The persons who account before SCOPA are essentially the Accounting Officers pursuant to the provisions of the PFMA. These are the persons responsible for operations of departments. In instances were unlawful directives were issued by the Minister, such a minister will be cordially invited to explain himself or herself. We have not encountered any resistance at this stage.
you will notice how tough the National Assembly will be regarding illicit actions in government. You are correct Prof that there had been inaction on the part of government in relation to pursuing statutory criminal charges against transgressors and laxity in taking radical disciplinary steps. These is a year of action. you will be shocked at the radical stance parliament is going to take against fraudsters.
Society needs to be a partner in this, including academia by asserting the legal tools to root out corruption, fraud, nepotism, cronism, favouratism and related social illls. I have noticed that most contributors are pessimistic to levels beyond redemption. I quess they would be proven wrong. Our democracy is deepening every single day. We will conquer!
I am happy that ISHMAEL MALALE can see that there are drastic steps that are going to be taken against fraudsters. My worry is that these guys are winning at the moment. They are winning by attacking individuals through the media. The media is playing ball and attacking individuals without proof.
Chris: check the population
Eastern Cape – 6.9-million
Free State – 2.9-million
Gauteng – 9.6-million
KwaZulu-Natal – 10-million
Limpopo – 5.4-million
Mpumalanga – 3.5-million
Northern Cape – 1.1-million
North West – 3.4-million
Western Cape – 4.8-million
We all need to change the way we think about an ANC ruled South Africa. For starters we can take the following as givens which are unlikely to change:
# There will never be true accountability within ANC structures
# The ANC will never take concrete action to halt corruption
# The ANC will always see personal enrichment as the principal benefit of political power
# The ANC will continue to deploy incompetent cadres at all levels of government
# The ANC will continue to fail at all levels of service delivery
# The ANC will always look for scapegoats to deflect attention away from their incompetence. The white, coloured and indian minorities make for ideal scapegoats
# The ANC will not make any attempt to moderate the demagogues within their ranks.
Once we all accept these givens we can start to formulate strategies to bring about the downfall of the ANC through the ballot rather than waste valuable intellectual capital on trying to get them to change their ways. For this reason a coherent opposition with credible black leadership becomes more important by the day
ISHMAEL MALALE says:
March 25, 2010 at 13:17 pm
It’s encouraging to hear that “parliament is going to take” a radical stance against fraudsters – it will be interesting to hear why MPs did not apply themselves until the radical stance is taken.
There are some worrying implications in your comments.
If the culture of not taking radical stances has set in, what’s going to drive a different mindset?
If permission has been given (and is needed) to MPs to be more forceful, what happens if the permission is withdrawn?
What happens if MPs are threatened with dismissal by powerful corrupt individuals or cabals?
Beyond that it’s worrying that the nation is almost relying on President Zuma to micromanage; our President has to get personally involved in far too much be it local government, hospitals, police stations, schools and the like before people start to do what they are paid to do.
Why was Willie Hofmeyr’s Asset Forfeiture Unit allowed to waste valuable and scarce state resources in pursuing the “case against the man central to the decade-long arms deal scandal”, “as there is no evidence of criminal conduct” – http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article365912.ece
Why are our roads being battered by trucks laden with heavy goods that ought to be railed when it was reported that the highest paid parastatal CEO was the Transnet boss?
You say “(i)n instances were unlawful directives were issued by the Minister, such a minister will be cordially invited to explain himself or herself” – perhaps I am missing something.
How is it possible for a minister to issue an unlawful directive?
What about directives that are lawful but no consistent with the NDR (like closing down teacher training colleges and selling of the buildings)?
Beyond that, what happens if the Minister ignores the “cordial” invitation or gives a response that is unsatisfactory?
@ Malale
Here is a good start to demonstrate radical stance.
http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71619?oid=168017&sn=Detail
Is it only me or is Jackson Mthembu brilliant at his job. H was caught driving drunk. Pleaded guilty and apologised and asked others not to do the same. Suddenly he has turned an embarrasing event into a triumph and shown what accountability is all about. Respect! Would love to have a drink with him.
@ Pierre…..he was drunk at 8am, he was was driving illegaly in the bus lane, he was happy to report to work / work whilst drunk AND he was endangering other road users. Maybe I am too cynical but his contrition smacks of trying to extricate himself from an outrageous situation. This has become the typical ploy of the politician who should rather be fired than forgiven. When will the ANC start making examples of people like this.
Someone might acknowledge that Jackass Mthembu did the unheard of in the annals of the godless, shameless ANC: He manned up, took responsibility and took his medicine!
No ordinary ANC dronkgat.
Anyone remember the name ‘Mzukisi Gaba’?
ISHMAEL MALALE says:
March 25, 2010 at 13:17 pm
“We have a very robust SCOPA which will raise the bar of accoutability and ensure enforcement of our laws in the quest for quality service delivery to our people. There is not any contradictions in that. The minister will not be called every time but were there is gross violations that require high level political intervention.”
Here’s some areas that SCOPA could consider :
“Former public protector Lawrence Mushwana found that Moosa failed to manage a conflict of interest arising from the 25 percent stake of the ANC’s investment company Chancellor House in Hitachi Power Africa.”
http://www.timeslive.co.za/business/article375322.ece/Cosatu-concerned-on-Moosa-verdict
“Sicelo Shiceka, minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, has been pressuring employees in his department to approve financial transactions that have led to irregular expenditure, a forensic report suggests.”
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-03-26-chaos-in-shicekas-department
Maggs, with respek, JR has offered yet another piece of consistent, solid advice.
Good, solid lives can now be freely downloaded on the web. (I will forward URL’s if you like.)
Have you nothing better to do than express confidence about the future while ignoring rampant corruption in the Western Cape?
Mikhail Dworkin Fassbinder says:
March 27, 2010 at 15:18 pm
“Maggs, with respek, JR has offered yet another piece of consistent, solid advice.”
Aw, he’s gone.
Abandoned the struggle!
Whatever are we gonna do without the sage advice????
The latest developments that involve multinationals such as Hitachi, Accelor Mittal and BHP Billiton should send a wake up call to all of us responsible citizens. We sold a state owned entity called Iscor and today we are paying dearly for consumption of steel to Mittal and they refuse to pay a market rate for the iron ore that they procure from Kumba. BHP Billiton signed a secret deal in 1997 to pay below cost price to Eskom and all of us have been subsidising their energy needs (10% of the total grid). Hitachi signed a deal with a company and don’t give a hoot about the identity of the beneficiaries.
In this deal of R38 Bn the BEE partner (25% shareholder) will only realise R50 MILLION over 8yrs, if that is not fronting then I am mad.
Is this the foreign direct investment (FDI) that we have been promised?
Are these the multinationals that we have to bend backwards and accommodate at all costs ?
These companies must be condemned just like the tendepreneurs or rules change when it comes to nationality, race etc