More action needed for the country to work

YESTERDAY marked the opening of the government school calendar, but in many ways, it also signified the country’s return to work in the new year, which also marks the start of a new decade.

This presents the country, troubled on a number of fronts, with an opportunity to address the myriad problems with renewed vigour and purpose.

Despite the flattering over 80% matric pass rate trumpeted by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga last week, it is no secret that the public education system is in dire straits, on several fronts. There is a severe shortage of infrastructure – including proper schools, toilets, libraries and laboratories – there are questions over the curriculum being taught, and the value of the certificates being handed out to matrics. And despite some modest gains, South African pupils lag behind much of the world in their performance in Maths and Science.

On the economic front, the country is in the doldrums, with the World Bank predicting growth of under 1%, based on electricity supply concerns. Which brings us to Eskom, source of much of the country’s frustration.

Having met the business community, President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that Eskom will be addressed. In a refreshing first, Ramaphosa also announced he has approved the drafting of new legislation to deregulate the process of companies and households generating their own electricity, which would reduce their reliance on Eskom and reduce the burden on Eskom to keep the nation electrified.

Although this could also reduce the hugely indebted Eskom’s revenue, it is an indication that Ramaphosa is prepared to stand up to the unions, which are dead set against independent power production.

The new year also saw the resumption of the State Capture Inquiry presided over by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, with yet more allegations of malfeasance being aired.

“We surely have enough technical committees, task teams, presidential commissions ... summits, conferences and lekgotlas, etcetera. Too many processes and little or no action.”

This was Business Unity SA president Sipho Pityana’s message to Ramaphosa, and we could not agree more.

Let the State Capture prosecutions begin, let the unbundling of Eskom begin. It is time for action, on all fronts. Let this be a decade of renewal and growth.