President turns into ostrich at family meeting
Struisvogelpolitiek — ostrich politics — is an evasive form of leadership that fails to address problems. Instead, it relies on ineffective measures to create a false sense of security and control.
After that address on the Covid-19 third wave, in which it was decided personal responsibility trumps government policy and action, it appeared President Cyril Ramaphosa either couldn’t or wouldn’t communicate anything of substance.
“I ask you to summon your strength, your courage, and your tenacity as South Africans to stand together and to hold back this third wave,” Ramaphosa said in his family meeting announcing the latest Covid-19 restrictions.
That’s rather insulting to ask when it wasn’t citizens who didn’t order vaccines timeously or swiped billions of rands earmarked for personal protective equipment. Ramaphosa missed an opportunity to lead and explain what’s to be done about Health Minister Zweli Mkhize, who has been placed on special leave.
During the early days of the pandemic, Mkhize gave South Africans hope that maybe our government’s talent pool is not a septic tank. His work ethic and seeming indefatigability gave the impression that we were in safe hands.
Now Mkhize faces allegations that Digital Vibes, a communications company that received a R150million contract from the health department for, inter alia, communications on Covid-19 and the National Health Insurance, made payments for Mkhize’s own benefit and that of his son, Dedani.
“Let me categorically state that I have not personally benefited from this contract,” the minister has said.
Mkhize may come to regret those denials. Or not. Consequence management seems to be a process that happens elsewhere.
We are chin-deep in an unprecedented health crisis, exacerbated by a stagnant economy that has caused untold suffering. The effects of these twin crises will be, according to economists, felt for the next decade.
The unnecessary deaths are made that much more painful as a tender is allocated to a network of individuals allegedly linked to the minister. It is hard to stomach when South Africans are repeatedly told to be patient, to be tenacious, to hold the line.
As the president said in his newsletter on 8 February: “The diversion of resources meant for public benefit came at a direct cost to people’s health and lives.
“That is why all involved in wrongdoing will be dealt with harshly and appropriately. They will not get to enjoy their ill-gotten gains, as steps have been taken to recover stolen money, including the freezing of bank accounts …”
Go on Mr President, put your money where your mouth is.
mg.co.za