I listened with appreciation as the Deputy President, Dr Cyril Ramaphosa, read out a statement laying out strategies for the eradication of all types of corruption, and I excitedly remarked, "Ramaphosa is long overdue."
I listened with appreciation as the Deputy President, Dr Cyril Ramaphosa, read out a statement laying out strategies for the eradication of all types of corruption, and I excitedly remarked, "Ramaphosa is long overdue."
I think he strikes the balance that the ANC has been lacking. This is just an old lady's opinion. I hadn't had enough time to assimilate any pleasant emotions when opposition curtly acknowledged the presentation, but bounced back, "And what have you done to have this implemented?"
Then it was this, that and the other, plus him being a shareholder with Eskom. Wow! I think I would have abandoned the whole exercise – but I'm not a politician.
I felt as though someone had slapped me in the face with a slimy dishcloth. Ramaphosa kept his cool, phrased and rephrased the contexts of the document.
Then I thought, "Okay!" Implementation, that is the key. Does this mean that he is going to rush to his car – not even waiting for bodyguards – and drive like a mad thing to the different provinces and local governments repeating what he had presented in Parliament?
This is where Pravin Gordhan's "Back to basics" strategy applies:
1. Service delivery.
2. Putting people first.
3. Good governance.
4. Sound financial management.
5. Robust institutions and administration.
And may I add:
1. Place the right people…
2. In the right places…
3. For the right reasons.
I would like to imagine that Parliament was a school, and I was the manager, and the different parties represented the different class or subject groups whose sole aim was to produce a robust institution, not to work in opposition, making the whole thing a power struggle so as to ultimately outwit and outshine the manager out of his (or her) positon.
Each group would then be given a task – as drawn up in the document. The groups would then hold a brief caucus to discuss how long it would take each one of them to accomplish their task.
The time frames would be put in place, after which a joint report-back meeting would be held. Each group would then state their case, noting success and/or problems encountered.
The whole institution would make contributions to assist the particular group – "unity of purpose". A robust administration is the essence of this exercise.
This would then cascade to the provinces and local governments with the same principles as above.
