Minister talks of SOE turnaround

TRANSPORT Minister Joe Maswanganyi has outlined several turnaround strategies at State-owned enterprises (SOEs) under his portfolio, hoping that the reforms capacitate the entities to drive a developmental agenda and cut corruption.

“Moving forward, with South Africa aspiring to be a developmental state, we are envisioning a framework for our SOE reforms and optimal contribution to equitable growth, development, transformation, and service delivery in South Africa,” Maswanganyi said during a media briefing on Friday.

He listed a host of reforms, including improving financial analysis, assessing performance based on efficiency and effectiveness as well as service delivery, harmonising remuneration principles, policies and practices across the SOEs, to ensure competitiveness and optimum retention of personnel, and improving transport SOE collaboration and co-ordination.

Maswanganyi said the fight against crime within these state institutions was high on the agenda.

“In implementing all these reforms, we remain committed to fight against all forms of crime and corruption.

“The national government has introduced and promoted various pieces of key legislation such as the Protected Disclosures Act, Promotion of Access to Information Act, Financial Intelligence Centre Act, Promotion of Administrative Justice Act and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act to deal with criminality,” he said.

Maswanganyi said the Department of Transport would be establishing a strong institutional capacity to complement the basic investigative work, in collaboration with such institutions such as the Public Protector, the National Prosecuting Authority, the Special Investigating Unit, the Public Service Commission, the Financial Intelligence Centre and the Auditor-General.