Painting over the potholes
New communications minister Mondli Gungubele has no expertise in a crucial sector of the economy
Frustrated Joburg motorists have spent the past month dodging council workers painting new road markings. Admirable, but not the most pressing priority given the gaping potholes on most of those roads.
Someone in my suburb has spray-painted “ANC” in bright green next to each pothole, and helpfully circled the hole with the same lurid colour. It’s happening all over Joburg.
It’s an apt metaphor for the state of the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s delayed cabinet reshuffle was a bit like those new road signs, papering over the cracks in a broken system.
His announcement was “not about overhauling [but] to fill vacancies” and continue “the important task of ensuring stability and continuity in the work of government”.
The surprising new minister of communications & digital technologies is Mondli Gungubele, 66, a supremely odd choice given that he has no known expertise in what is a crucial sector for any economy. He is one of Ramaphosa’s main allies, but — and I don’t want to seem ageist here — isn’t it a bit late in his career to be taking on the cutting-edge technology and telecoms portfolio?
I know seasoned executives with decades of experience who would balk at that challenge, even without the additional task of having to lift the country out of its stagnancy. It’s a listless ministry that has been devoid of meaningful leadership for decades.
At least we can be thankful that the nonperforming Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has been swapped out to some nebulous role as minister in the presidency.
The biggest problems in the discombobulated communications & digital technologies ministry are lack of vision, lack of understanding of legislation and a tragic unwillingness to let the SABC run itself and make a profit.
It’s mind-boggling that the public broadcaster hasn’t had a board for nearly five months. In the outgoing board’s last annual report, it quotes auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke’s warning that “a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the public [entity’s] ability to continue as a going concern”.
There is an election next year and SABC coverage will be important for the ANC in reaching rural voters, who tend to only have access to state-owned media and form a major slice of the party’s constituency. Maybe this is why the experienced Gungubele has been moved in.
Ntshavheni’s new post, says Ramaphosa, will include responsibility for “various tasks”, including state security and the Government Communication & Information System. Talk about failing upwards.
There are two verifiable facts that are worth pointing out in Ramaphosa’s speech. First, he knows what the problems are: “Those issues that concern South Africans the most: load-shedding, unemployment, poverty and the rising cost of living, and crime and corruption.”
It’s hard to miss. Even with a cold. Second, Ramaphosa tacitly admitted he’ sa procrastinator. As he finished, he went off script to add: “I apologise for keeping you waiting for much longer than was necessary.”
In the run-up to next year’s elections — when the ANC, mark my words, will be lucky to get 40% expect lots of fresh paint on our unpassable potholed roads.