Pityana lashes cadre jobs and control by unions

CADRE deployment and high levels of unionisation are threatening to cripple the government, says ANC stalwart and AngloGold Ashanti chairman Sipho Pityana, decrying the levels of corruption in government.

Pityana said yesterday that unions have too much control in the government and this is negatively affecting the effectiveness of various departments.

He was speaking at an ethics conference in Pretoria, at which he also called for the constitution to be amended to ensure the Public Service Commission and the auditor-general’s recommendations are not ignored.

Pityana, a former director-general in the Department of Foreign Affairs, made headlines recently when he called for President Jacob Zuma to resign at the funeral of former sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile.

Pityana said while there was need for alignment between the governing party and the state, in many cases unsuitable people were being deployed to the state. “At every level of government the party deploys, and often giving scant regard to qualifications, experience and suitability. It can be argued that there is efficacy in political deployment in order to ensure alignment between the party in power and governance.

“But this has been vulgarised and used as a blunt instrument to bring in people who do not have any prospect of making a positive impact.”

He said the high levels of unionisation compounded the partisan approach of the state, undermining its professional and ethical standing.

“Government is often unclear about the labour relations model it follows, ranging from subtle but effective control by unions that is polarising the bureaucracy.

“Reports abound of corrupt union officials taking posts and promotional opportunities to their loyal members and cronies, and overlooking competent staff,” he said.

Pityana called for the Public Service Commission and auditor-general to be given powers equal to those of the public protector so their findings could be implemented and not merely be recommendations only.

“The auditor-general… just recommends. It is up to Parliament and the executive to follow through, but these can simply be ignored.”