Let’s get our best people into parliament

The stringent requirements of the new electoral laws could be seen as either meant to keep no-hopers off our ballots or as a sinister stratagem to impede potential political opponents. Either way, some impediments are required if they serve the broader good of society. As most parties submitted their public representative lists to the Electoral Commission of South Africa on Friday, the relief for parties unrepresented in parliament at being able to overcome the “huddles” was palpable.

In other quarters, discourse was over which truant MPs must face the chop: those exposed by the state capture commission of inquiry, those who will embarrass whichever party when they get charged, or those who have reached retirement age.

While there are different strands of MPs that need to be kept off party lists, we believe South Africans ought to have a genuine discussion about the type of MP required as the country celebrates the 30-year milestone in our democratic journey.

A parliament of the people ought to embody the best of us and seek to resolve myriad challenges that appear intractable, not because they are inordinately complex but because they were initially believed to be benign and were left unattended until the rot set in. Eskom is one such challenge. Transnet another.

The ANC has a wonderful document called “Through the eye of the needle” which essentially calls for only people whose standing is beyond reproach to step forward to represent “the people”. In a world that is increasingly complex, we must add that not only upright people should lead — but also those capable of managing complexity. The government passed a budget of R2.37-trillion three weeks ago. Three months earlier, auditor-general

Tsakani Maluleke told us only one in 19 major state-owned enterprises received a clean audit and billions are incurred in irregular and wasteful expenditure with monotonous regularity.

The lists being submitted by various parties must not merely be awash with people popular in their communities for purposes of helping the parties get elected. They, importantly, must include representatives who would be able to, for example, analyse the financial statements of a behemoth like Eskom and make useful suggestions about how to get it out of its fiscal quagmire. The country needs MPs who will be able to engage Transnet executives in the detail of their strategy to infuse life into our ports, or help us better understand SAA or Denel.

While we hope the parties have put their best candidates forward, history teaches us to temper our expectations. Young, skilled and talented South Africans don’t see parliament as the best place to showcase their talents or earn an honest living.

Parliament has become a place where golden oldies sleep through speeches, a place where individuals are not allowed to independently apply their intellect to issues because the “whips” for the parties force them into groupthink, otherwise referred to as the “party line”.

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe reportedly called the ANC list the “winning list” at the party’s extended national executive committee meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni on Monday. Rise Mzansi, ActionSA and Build One South Africa leaders, contesting parliamentary elections for the first time, described their candidate lists as formidable, diverse, excellent and youthful.

We hope those who make it to parliament fully understand their mission beyond whips’ whims and party vicissitudes. Parliament, now led by former defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula — mired in corruption scandals — has failed to inspire millions of people who are hopeful this democracy will eventually deliver a better life for all.

To be one of only 490 people representing the dreams and hopes of almost 60-million South Africans is an important, historic assignment.

It is one that requires people who do not merely placate citizens with platitudes but who embody the vision of a nation yearning to lead on the continent and in the world.

The laws may eliminate some, age may sideline others, but what South Africa truly deserves is skilled, focused and hardworking public representatives who understand and embrace their historic duty.

Some must be able to analyse the financials of a behemoth like Eskom