“The answer to South Africa’s challenges is definitely not to expand the cabinet or move around ineffective ministers.
It really does not matter who is appointed or moved, as long as they still try to implement the ANC’s lacking policies,” said Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA. “The entire policy needs to be changed to see an improvement since it has achieved no progress for South Africans in the past thirty years.”
As expected, Dr Kgosientso Ramakgopa was appointed as the new Minister of Electricity. However, TLU SA is under no illusion that the new minister will make any improvement to the government’s implementation ability.
Eskom’s poor performance can largely be attributed to the government’s interference and the results of its cadre deployment policy. Instead, greater distance from the government would achieve success there - privatisation would have been the better course. Eskom is not the only crisis - all the rest of the semi-state institutions are on the same page as Eskom, which has already had two ministers and still struggles over who the responsible person is.
“Will additional ministers be announced in due course for all the other failures, too?” asks Van Zyl.
The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, remains firmly in his post, despite his long list of failures and a murder rate of 84 people per day under his misguidance.
“This cabinet reshuffle confirms that the well-being of South Africans is not a priority for the government,” said Van Zyl. “It was merely an attempt to strengthen factions and thus score points for the upcoming election. More than ever, loyalty takes priority over competence for the ANC.”
Kabinetskommeling nie die antwoord op Suid-Afrikaanse uitdagings
“Die antwoord tot Suid-Afrika se uitdagings is beslis nie om die kabinet te vergroot of oneffektiewe ministers rond te skuif nie. Dit maak in werklikheid nie saak wie aangestel of geskuif word, as hulle steeds die ANC se gebrekkige beleid probeer uitvoer nie,” sê Bennie van Zyl hoofbestuurder van TLU SA. “Die totale beleid moet verander word om ‘n verbetering te sien, aangesien dit die afgelope dertig jaar nog geen vooruitgang vir Suid-Afrikaners bewerkstellig het nie.”
Soos verwag is Dr. Kgosientso Ramakgopa aangestel as die nuwe Minister van Elektrisiteit. TLU SA verkeer onder geen wanindruk dat die nuwe minister enige verbetering aan die regering se implementeringsvermoë sal maak nie.
Eskom se swak prestasie kan grootliks toegeskryf word aan die regering se inmenging en die resultate van sy beleid van kaderontplooiing. Sukses aldaar sou eerder bereik word indien groter afstand vanaf die regering verkry word - privatisering sou steeds die beter koers gewees het. Eskom is nie die enigste krisis nie - al die res van semi-staatsinstellings is op dieselfde bladsy as Eskom wat inderdaad reeds twee ministers gehad het en steeds worstel oor wie die verantwoordelike persoon is.
“Gaan daar mettertyd vir al die ander mislukkings ook bykomende ministers geskep word?” vra Van Zyl.
Die Minister van Polisie, Bheki Cele bly steeds stewig in sy pos, ten spyte van sy lang lys van mislukkings en ‘n moordsyfer van 84 mense per dag, onder sy misleiding.
“Hierdie kabinentskommeling bevestig dat die welstand van Suid-Afrikaners beslis nie vir die regering ‘n prioriteit is nie,” sê Van Zyl. “Dit was bloot ‘n poging om faksies te versterk en so punte in te samel vir die komende verkiesing. Lojaliteit is nou meer as ooit, belangriker as kundigheid vir die ANC.”