A is for Accountability!
Three headlines grabbed my attention this week. The first centres on the lamentable implementation of reconstruction and development programme (RDP) housing projects throughout South Africa. “R1.3bn needed to fix badly-built RDP houses,” was splashed acro
How does government deal with more than a decade of corruption in housing delivery? The African National Congress (ANC) ruling party simply swept the entire Department of Housing under the carpet. They created a new and impressive-sounding Ministry of Human Settlements in its place. Sexwale starts his term with a clean slate, but those responsible for the mess have simply been redeployed to work their special brand of magic on other areas of public service.
Footing the bill for incompetence and corruption
Sexwale’s attempts to remedy the housing mess are commendable, but government shouldn’t insult taxpayers by asking them to pay for service delivery twice without holding someone accountable! Perhaps some heads will roll. The minister issued a scathing statement to community members in the Eastern Cape recently. He said the contractors who built inferior RDP houses were “stealing” money. He acknowledged that “wrong things [were] being done in the name of government,” though he could have added “with government consent.” His observation that contractors who failed to meet building standards were “thieves” is commendable. And under his leadership investigations into 20 priority projects are already underway!
Sexwale promises: “We won’t pay those companies that we find to be culpable. We also want to withdraw the trading licences of [such] companies. We want to blacklist them – close the companies down and send them to jail!” I hope the minister pays as much attention to the government employees who presided over the mess. And – since the buck stops at the top – he might turn his attention to the previous minister of the now defunct housing ministry...
A military in shambles
The second news item deals with the shocking conditions in the country’s military service. Reported as “South Africa’s military time bomb” we learn of crumbling infrastructure and wide-spread erosion of discipline. Media picked up on the story after the chairman of a commission looking into the conditions of military service (Judge Ronnie Bosielo) told the minister of defence and military veterans we are sitting on a ticking time bomb! The report was drafted to “to draw [the minister’s] attention and [let her know] we are sitting on a time bomb. If you don’t attend to it today – or yesterday – you’re going to regret it,” said Bosielo. Lindiwe Sisulu – ex-minister of housing incidentally – was advised to act immediately to avoid an implosion!
Bosielo noted that SANDF members are demoralised, disgruntled and ill-disciplined – facts clearly demonstrated when striking defence force personnel clashed with the Metro police in Pretoria recently. The proposed solution includes an immediate wage increase for soldiers. But once again – solutions don’t address the core issues. Our defence force languishes today because of poor leadership. A military barrack doesn’t decay overnight. Nor does a defence force – once rated in the top ten military forces worldwide by Jane’s Defence Weekly – simply fall from grace! A military base, hospital or division is a reflection of its top ranking officers. Any shortcomings in funding, discipline or operating efficiency at any of the country’s military bases or hospitals rests with these officers. It’s time for some of our so-called ‘generals’ to fall on their swords!
Rats the size of small cats!
The last story to catch my eye was published in The Times, 20 November 2009. Under the headline “An eye-opener for Zuma” journalist Nkululeko Ncana documents a visit by President Jacob Zuma (and entourage) to one of South Africa’s many informal settlements, the Madelakufa squatter camp. Zuma’s unannounced ‘inspection’ casts light on some of the more serious issues confronting the country’s poor. Living conditions are lamentable, accountability is non-existent.
A resident of the informal settlement complained of “rats the size of kittens” while the president listened attentively. The reason there were rats, she said, was that there was rubbish everywhere. What does this woman expect the president to do? Would she like the country’s top politician to roll up his sleeves and tackle the mounds of rubbish for her? The very least any community can do is take pride in its surroundings. If there’s not enough money for plastic bags, rubbish bins and waste tips then the township should earmark a central collection point for refuse and agree to dispose of ALL household waste at that point. Had this been done the community would be justified in complaining that government had failed in its duty to collect and remove the refuse!
Litter is a massive problem in South Africa. Stroll through any street in central Pretoria or Johannesburg, or disembark at any taxi rank and you’re confronted by tons of the stuff. Not a day goes by I don’t lose my cool when someone throws rubbish out of a moving vehicle – and that applies to those of you who flick cigarette buts out windows too! Who do you think is going to pick it up? Yes – cigarette butts are biodegradable – but so are aluminium cans given enough time...
Editor’s thoughts: Forget what they taught you in primary school. A is not for Apple – it’s for Accountability. As individuals we need to accept greater responsibility for our actions – and for our inactions too! The country won’t truly progress until we instil this discipline across all communities. Should ministers of government departments be held to account for poor performances, or simply shuffled to new cabinet posts? Add your comment below, or send it to [email protected]
