Gwede, Nomvula fired in a Sona of my dreams
The president’s state of the nation address (Sona) was too long and too timid. I fell asleep and dreamt that he delivered a more decisive and radical speech that took only
45 minutes, was clear and straightforward, and showed action and not just words …
I have decided to cut the cabinet by half. In this I include all deputy ministers. It will save the country some R3bn over the next three years.
I have decided to remove the following while they clear their names at the Zondo commission: Pravin Gordhan, Gwede Mantashe, Nomvula Mokonyane, Bathabile Dlamini and Mondli Gungubele. Once they have been cleared I will reconsider them. Following terrible allegations linked to the Public Investment Corp, I relieve Zweli Mkhize.
The NPA has informed me that it will soon make pronouncements on prosecutions. In line with the Constitutional Court judgment declaring the disbandment of the Scorpions illegal, I reinstate them under the leadership of Bulelani Ngcuka and summarily dismiss Nomgcobo Jiba and Lawrence Mrwebi.
There will be immediate cost-cutting. All members of the executive will fly economy except on international travel. All ministerial staff and directors-general will also fly economy on all local travel, and only on SAA. The presidential jet will only be used for international travel.
Parliament will move to Gauteng. The old precinct will become a school of government focusing on ethical leadership. SA will stop subsidising the pan-African parliament, and its premises will house our parliament. Provincial governments will be phased out over the next five years. Municipalities will be cut from 298 to 90 with a maximum of 10 per province.
The 700 parastatals will be rationalised to 100 through a series of mergers and acquisitions, making it unnecessary to have 700 boards of directors. The SAA and SA Express boards will merge with the boards of Transnet and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA. The mergers must be completed within three months. The new boards must immediately seek a private equity partner. This will be a true public-private partnership.
The National Treasury will look to save R100bn. To curtail waste this will include disposing of land and buildings the state does not need.
This will trim the public service, whose retirement age will be 60. The 2,000 civil servants who were doing business with the state are dismissed. It is time we were serious about people who steal from the state.
All disciplinary cases of people who are on suspension with pay must be completed before Freedom Day, April 27.
Social grants to people over 60 are hereby increased while social grants for recipients under 30 are halved.
Free education will be implemented for postgraduate studies and all companies will, by law, be made to employ at least 10 interns a year for the next five years. This is nonnegotiable for any company wanting to do business with the state. The minimum wage will also be increased to R7,000 a month from next year. Corporate tax will be in line with personal tax at 45%.
The Marikana victims will be paid R2m per family and all the children given scholarships to study abroad. I will personally contribute R70m. Should the public protector find me guilty on Bosasa, I will resign.
Last year I ordered that pit toilets be eradicated in three months. I hereby release the minister of education from her responsibility in this regard and set a new deadline for this to be fixed by Freedom Day.
Finally I dissolve the board of Eskom and appoint three boards for the new Eskom. These boards will share head offices and will not go on a shopping spree for new premises.
… At this point I woke up and realised that SA was not ready for such a Sona. It would rather have another task team, another call for suggestions, a tip-toeing around ministers who are corrupt and a postponement of many other tasks that would rebuild the economy.
I woke up and realised that SA was not ready … it would rather have another task team