Double standards have long since taken root in the culture of political party elites. Hypocrisy has become most prominent when discussing issues of competence and qualifications. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s failure to force the ministers in his cabinet to sign performance contracts has been viewed by some as evidence that the Department of Performance Management has no reason to exist. This has boiled over to local politics when the election of Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya exposes the hypocrisy and selective amnesia that has embedded itself in the formation of coalitions.
Last week, councillors from the ANC and the EFF said one of the reasons they were voting for ActionSA’s Moya to be the new Mayor of Tshwane was because she was “well-qualified” and had the right experience. After her election, the Gauteng ANC issued a statement saying, “the ANC in Gauteng welcomes with glee the election of ActionSA’s candidate, Dr Nasiphi Moya, as the new Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality”. The leadership of the Cosatu-affiliate and ANC-supporting SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said that “we are committed to working hand in hand with the new leadership to restore Tshwane to its former glory, a city that serves all its residents, regardless of their economic standing”.
Both the Gauteng ANC and Samwu have wilfully forgotten that the person they are talking about was the deputy mayor in the previous administration, of which they were very critical.
This has raised the ire of many observers as it does not represent a clean start for the Tshwane Municipality which remains trapped in the mismanagement of its own politics. This is due to coalition partners breaking ranks with one another and “king-makers” siding with one other political party because they are not pleased with what the other party, they are in partnership with is doing. Action SA is none the less a new party on the political scene that still needs to prove itself to expand its influence. New political parties that are based on ideals need to be weary of who their well-wishers are and who wants to manipulate them. In Municipal politics their major role is to serve the people in the resident city with the services they are required to provide.
In terms of governance mayors and senior councillors should be expected to sign performance contracts. Also, in terms of critics, observers and voters should be weary of their agendas and why they would want a change in administration.
There would be nothing wrong or immoral with a political party standing up and saying: we want this person in office and we do not want that person in office. Or to simply say: we have reached a new coalition deal and thus we now support this person and not that person. It would have been politically rational for the ANC, EFF and others to have said last week that they want Moya to be mayor and not Brink. It seems that by seeking to justify it, they are showing that they realise voters want more from politicians than just naked politicking. They are trying to cloak their real lust for power behind the claims about “competence” and “qualifications”. Unfortunately, the same happens in national government.
It would appear that not everyone is happy with the way politicians have been preaching their agenda. Especially when it comes to selecting the most “competent” and “qualified” candidates to be in the most important positions. The lesson is that politicians should practice what they preach. Not just done false masks of righteousness but make genuine commitment. Signing performance contracts such as the ones stated previously and being evaluated by an independent commission should form part of the accepted practice. Democracy and leadership should be based on a common trust between the people in charge and the voters that those in charge can deliver and keep their work. This is very important at the local level. Performance contracts need to be evaluated by a committee made up of former lawyers and judges similar to what is done with other legal appointments made by the state.
Meanwhile the peaceful passing of former reserve bank governor and finance minister Tito Mboweni on Saturday 12 October sent waves of grief across the international financial sector.
On Sunday, the SARB extended its condolences to Mboweni’s family, friends, and colleagues. “Mr Mboweni’s passing is a great loss to South Africa, the continent and the global economic community. He played a meaningful role in driving economic transformation and social change throughout his distinguished career. Mr Mboweni guided South Africa through periods of great uncertainty, with a steady hand on the economy during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 as Governor, and later shepherding the country’s finances through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic as Finance Minister,” the SARB said in a statement. Mboweni served as the Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 in South Africa’s first democratic Cabinet under President Nelson Mandela. The SARB said in this capacity, Mboweni is credited with being the architect of South Africa’s post-apartheid labour legislation.
Mboweni is a giant who will become a legend in finance. His role in improving the South African economy will be enshrined with deep appreciation. As an architect of South Africa’s post-Apartheid labour and finance he laid the corner stones and foundation of the country’s economy in the democratic era. His work was almost brought to ruin by the excesses of state capture. It remains to be seen whether the nation can bounce back from the scars these excesses had left behind. Mboweni was a member of the African National Congress’s old guard that served in the struggle to end Apartheid. His expertise was instrumental in improving the country’s financial and economic uncertainties. Mboweni was one of the reconciling forces that helped rebuild South Africa in terms of economics and steered it successfully on a steady path.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
