Folly of MPL who serves two masters
On Friday, Sowetan revealed how a member of the Limpopo legislature had been paid more than R1-million in salary and allowances despite her staying away from work.
The report says ANC MPL Thandi Moraka was absent without leave for 14 consecutive sittings, which effectively nullifies her appointment, according to legislature rules.
It is bad when people in high positions of decision-making neglect their duties. Firstly, it sends a wrong message to junior state workers, who will merely copy the example of their seniors by neglecting their duties as well.
Secondly, when legislature members stays away from work they undermine all efforts by this crucial organ of state to inspire the formulation and implementation of laws and, subsequently, the drive for effective service delivery.
In essence, Moraka shortchanged the public; she stole from the people instead of serving them.
In an attempt to defend Moraka’s behaviour, ANC chief whip in the Limpopo legislature, Falaza Mdaka, said Moraka had been absent because of political matters.
As a deputy secretary, Moraka is a high-ranking leader in the ANC Youth League, and these are busy days for her and fellow executives of the organisation, who are heavily involved in the power struggle in the ANC.
This admission by her political principal in the legislature ironically points to the folly of allowing political figureheads to retain their party positions after their appointment to public service.
In a productive democracy Moraka should have given up her position in the party when she accepted her party’s secondment to the legislature.
She’s not alone; this clear case of conflict of interest affects other government officials. Many of them are regularly seen or known for active party work rather than for what they should be doing in the legislatures or town councils.
An MPL is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature. Unfortunately, this dictionary definition has no place in the SA political system, which favours deployees. Moraka did not create this moribund system but she and others of her ilk are clearly happy to milk it for what it is worth.