‘Hands off Gordhan!’
THE Budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan was warmly welcomed by all the parties. The increase in the tax bracket of those earning more than R1.5 million a year brought silence to parliamentarians as they digested the implications of the new adjustment and how it will affect them.
A disconcerting factor was the lack of policy to deal with corruption, which bleeds the country of billions of rand every year. In the 2015 financial year almost R26bn was unaccounted for.
And in 2016 almost R42bn was lost through illicit payments and unauthorised expenditure, according to the auditor-general. The citizens in the country bear the brunt when corruption is rampant.
If the monies listed above were still in the National Treasury, then possibly the levy on fuel and sin taxes could have been reduced.
When quizzed about the buzzword flying around, “radical economic transformation”, Gordhan asked a very pertinent question. Is this about the real empowerment of the marginalised and poor or is it about the covering up of patronage where a select few benefit from the process and the marginalised are left behind?
Gordhan, a deep critical thinker, is always on top of his game. He is fully aware of the vultures hovering above, intent on plundering the public purse.
Brian Molefe sneaked into the House through the back door after being implicated in the state capture report.
He cried and resigned, but now he is back and tipped to replace Gordhan. What a field day in terms of spending it will be ever day, with no resistance to money used from the Treasury, if Molefe becomes the minister of finance.
The bottom line is that our Chapter 9 institutions have been reduced to a joke, with little or no accountability.
Gordhan also had the Hawks circling around him for certain spurious charges that fell flat.
His deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, spilled the beans about state capture and now he is being investigated. What a crying shame! Gordhan will be fired for doing a sterling job, is the mantra circulated in the media and social platforms.
Let’s look at the inconsistencies: Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s department is in a R4.3 bn deficit. She is being investigated by the public protector and the Special Investigating Unit.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini still needs to resolve the payment of 17 million grant beneficiaries when the contract with Cash Paymaster Services is terminated at the end of the month.
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi showed incompetence when carrying out her responsibility as shareholder representative, according to the ad hoc committee investigating mismanagement at the SABC.
The recommendation was that the president should review whether she should continue to hold this portfolio.
Gordhan, no charges or investigations… has kept a tight rein on the country’s fiscus. An individual beyond reproach, yet being hounded to vacate his portfolio. A dedicated servant of the people who has helped our country stave off downgrades.
An individual respected globally, who brings stability to the markets in South Africa, but at the same time, he’s ready to vacate his position if called upon to do so.
Hands off Pravin Gordhan, a true, committed, honest and dedicated servant of our African soil.