Wasting SAPS training
IT IS QUITE obvious that our new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is determined to steer South Africa to prosperity after past president Jacob Zuma and some of his cronies almost brought the economy to a standstill through state capture and corruption.
One of the key performance areas that requires urgent attention is job creation to stimulate the economy. This can only happen with big business getting involved.
Once the controversial land restitution issue is resolved, investor confidence will return.
The government should be looking at weaknesses within certain departments and use them as opportunities to create jobs.
For instance, the Department of Health could be a potential job creator. The Esidimeni tragedy and the listeriosis outbreak reveal that there is a dire shortage of health workers, such as caregivers and food inspectors, within this sector that could create hundreds of jobs.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele should look at how the SAPS operates and consider creating an administrative department at every police station. Why should police officers, who were trained through the academy, also be doing non-policing tasks like taking statements and issuing bail receipts, etc? The SAPS could create hundreds of jobs by employing educated youth to fulfil these tasks, while trained police officers should be out there fighting crime.
Minister of Higher Education Naledi Pandor has stated that there would be a focus on TVET colleges to produce the skills needed to bolster the economy. These could easily cater for such needs as required in the health and police sectors.
There are many other government departments that could also create much-needed jobs with competent ministers in charge.