Following Pied Piper over the cliff
SO THE trending buzzword in South Africa is “radical transformation”.
No one really understands what it means, but the party faithful follow the Pied Piper, blindly, even if it takes them over the cliff.
Some believe that “radical transformation” means empowering and enriching the Msholozi clan, to which the Guptas have honorary membership.
Motswagole ( Brian) Molefe and Mzwanele ( Jimmy) Manyi most probably believe that this involves supporting their handlers at the Saxonwold compound.
President Jacob Zuma used the phrase “radical transformation” 12 times in his State of the Nation Address, hence the Holy Grail anointment.
South Africa’s economic knight in shining armour, also known as Minister Pravin Gordhan, was criticised for not using this phrase in his 2017 Budget speech and the subliminal suggestion was that he was therefore out of sync with the president’s grand vision for social justice, equality and non-racism.
Always super fast on his feet, Gordhan replied: “I did use the word ‘radical’. I said ‘radical’ is when you get down to the root of the problem. But we need to distinguish between slogan and content. The deeper question is, what are the slogan and narrative about?
“Is it about genuine empowering 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? Will these slogans take us back to last year where people were trying to get access to the public purse?”
He also quoted Pope Francis for good measure.
“Reforming the social structures which perpetuate poverty and the exclusion of the poor first requires a conversion of mind and heart.”
Perhaps the problem is that SA’s heart and mind have been sold to you know who – for a few pieces of silver.
Gordhan made an active call to civil society to identify transformation opportunities in communities, (where there are strong bonds and traditions of caring and sharing), to be responsible and demand accountability as engaged citizens.
Growth
Gordhan emphasised that radical economic transformation does not mean a “narrow change that merely transfers ownership, benefits an elite and perpetuates inequality”.
He contended that: “We need to transform in order to grow, we need to grow in order to transform. Without transformation, growth will reinforce inequality; without growth, transformation will be distorted by patronage.
“A growing economy makes more rapid transformation possible, but it is the fiscal system that is the most direct vehicle for redistribution and inclusivity.”
The words and ideas of a man very much at the top of his game, notwithstanding the vultures hovering over his head, while many were drafting his political obituary, as Molefe sneaked into Parliament through the back door, apparently head-hunted by No 1 to succeed Gordhan.
The knives are out for Gordhan from the usual praise singers – also known as hit (wo)men – the ANCYL and the ANCWL, and of course Sars Commissioner Tom Moyane, who apparently do the Masters’ bidding.
Gordhan was optimistic that “if we make the right choices and do the right things we will achieve a just and fair society, founded on human dignity and equality. We will indeed transform our economy and country so that we all live in dignity, peace and well-being”.
Gordhan’s agenda was crystal clear, and he invoked the words of Chief Albert Luthuli: “I believe that here in South Africa with all our diversities of colour and race, we will show the world a new pattern for democracy. There is a challenge for us to set a new example for all. Let us not side-step this task.”
Julius Malema was suffuse with praise for Gordhan but derisive of Zuma: “Pravin is the only person (minister) with some sense of respect from everyone. I think Zuma sitting there so wishes it was him who was given such respect and a standing ovation by everyone, irrespective of political differences. If you got such a person and you throw such a person away, it will be his loss. But Zuma is known for own goals.”
Performance
Gordhan may be fired as minister of finance because he was doing his job too well.
Compare his stellar performance, staving off a downgrade from the major rating agencies (while his boss appears to be hell-bent on committing hara kiri), to three of his colleagues.
Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s department is R4.3bn in the red, and facing investigations by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini ( who did not believe that Gordhan deserved a standing ovation), has not resolved how 17 million grant beneficiaries would be paid when the SA Social Security Agency’s contract with Cash Paymaster Services ends in March.
According to the parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating mismanagement at the SABC, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi “displayed incompetence in carrying out her responsibility as shareholder representative”, and the recommendation was that the president should seriously review whether she should continue to hold this portfolio.
A year ago Gordhan was being investigated by the Hawks on spurious charges. Now the Hawks are circling the Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, for alleged corruption.
This may be related to Jonas’s explosive revelations relating to state capture. Their real crime is preventing the looting of the Treasury.
When quizzed about his political future, Gordhan responded that he served at the behest of the president. City Press reported that should there be a cabinet reshuffle, there will an en masse resignation, led by Cyril Ramaphosa. The bigger, more critical question is: at whose behest does the president serve?