End SOEs rot, deploy capable cadres
If I were the minister of public enterprises, I would appoint Dikgang Moseneke and Terence Nombembe to lead Eskom. I would also deploy Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa to lead SAA, with Sizwe Nxasana as his captain.
The truth is that the shenanigans besetting state-owned entities border on corporate governance and accountability deviations.
Rationally, a deployment of capable cadres with requisite skills is an ideal strategy for the ruling party to take charge of the state in order to meaningfully transform the society.
This is bolstered by the theory that deployees would process government mandates in the performance of their duties to deliver on the objectives set out in the party election manifesto. The challenge arises when those entrusted to realise this goal get embroiled in maladministration.
Painfully, the effects are gravely felt by the poor, the unemployed and the needy – particularly the sickly and the homeless. The reality is that corruption perpetuates instability in the country. And the rot is right at the top, hence corruption has occupied space in society.
Our way of life has been replaced by a corrupt conduct – we bribe to get ahead of others, we bribe to get things done our way and we bribe to get away with wrongdoing. The devil of patronage has captured our leaders in such a way that rogue elements are treated as royalty. And we’ve grown accustomed to this institutionalised looting of state resources, giving it fancy terms such as “capture” when it’s actually corruption.
It’s always given that a public official would knowingly cause the state to incur losses and then flee without any consequences. Hopefully, the upcoming ANC policy conference would make a diagnosis of the deployment policy and come up with stringent measures to deal with runaway delinquents. Morgan Phaahla, Vosloorus