South Africa P.I.G.: GOVERNMENT

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Self-delusion and denialism within SA’s ruling and BEE classes

It is dawning on South Africa that there are two very separate and distinct mindsets at work in the country, and it seems never the twain will meet. Newspaper columns and letter pages, as well as talk shows and phone-ins, are replete with what “should be done” and ”why is this not done?” and the now over-used word “unbelievable”, from citizens aghast at the unfathomable behaviour of the ruling classes. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWSiqc_Vkja2A8XUCS2__cSyJQoNlzG4TZ8n5H_QwdoVPCEAEIwfRrPcsNMVBD3hYxyt3Y33oVsTNOodr_4gpegsFSIaOLZz2ppRJ4jrEg1x-23Pzth8C8gVv5Q1HGLZYy54CF-uQ48xw/s1600/incompetence01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538844529326576226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWSiqc_Vkja2A8XUCS2__cSyJQoNlzG4TZ8n5H_QwdoVPCEAEIwfRrPcsNMVBD3hYxyt3Y33oVsTNOodr_4gpegsFSIaOLZz2ppRJ4jrEg1x-23Pzth8C8gVv5Q1HGLZYy54CF-uQ48xw/s400/incompetence01.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 115px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 115px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The logic of one mindset is not the logic of the other. Who would think that after the abysmal failure of the South African land redistribution programme, the government would continue with it, albeit under different guises? Who would believe that after wantonly destroying Zimbabwe and rendering his people to grinding penury, the South African government would ask the United Nations to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe’s president, a perpetrator of human rights atrocities? Who can fathom a government that month after month - indeed year after year - places advertisements for desperately-needed municipal staff, stipulating that they are “equal opportunity employers”, meaning skilled whites need not apply? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvENGzy20c2PemX-p2ZqdK3nqdQqfzecIac-ndgjZhHnQ8z3010hSXQk9NHJwOOBiISFKr4gI5kUMI2yVNvS1ZacLCyfBXJEBauoZ9OmithsM9TF7JVj2W8H_SwLZyUavuSGT5pLt3ht6/s1600/incompetence02.jpg"></a>How is it that despite embarrassing service delivery failures, the wholesale plunder of taxpayers’ money by tenderpreneurs and government employees, the nepotism, the lowering of standards in health and education, the failing feeding schemes and the abuse of the social welfare system, the miscreants simply carry on as if nothing happened. There is no shame, no sense of accountability to those who pay them and indeed to South Africa as a nation. Indeed, when many are fired for incompetence, mismanagement or fraud, or all three, they go to court to demand huge payouts that they believe are their due! Denialism is at work here, and this brings us to an interesting explanation of this phenomenon now doing the Wikipedia rounds: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect">Dunning-Kruger effect</a>. THE D K EFFECT <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538849613055124050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wqjPYscBsBra90QiVogpW9sfqYkB_fWGdiJwwSC8kIyocCdBA7Vkux54JWEqxIaTRrqShEf-bY8Fyw1NX0sUmv2KFtHQ8Kl5_4V-XX5RQHR-bcr_sasc5VC7u1rpoudR1ms9REwtZp8e/s400/dunning-krugereffectwikipedia.png" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 372px; CURSOR: hand" /> The Dunning-Kruger effect is the phenomenon wherein people who have little knowledge (or skill) tend to think they know more (or have more skill) than they do. Wikipedia reports that Justin Kruger and David Dunning of the USA’s Cornell University first performed a series of experiments in 1999 which suggested that ignorance of standards of performance is behind a great deal of incompetence. One of their 2000 reports was entitled “<a href="http://www.damninteresting.com/unskilled-and-unaware-of-it">Unskilled and Unaware of it</a> : How difficulties in recognizing one’s own incompetence lead to inflated self-assessments”. They say that, <ul><li>Incompetent individuals tend to overestimate their own level of skill. </li><li>Incompetent individuals fail to recognize genuine skill in others. </li><li>Incompetent individuals fail to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy. </li></ul>They conclude that poor performers do not learn from feedback that suggests a need to improve. Wikipedia gives numerous examples of others who have completed works in this field, including Bertrand Russell’s “The Triumph of Stupidity” (1933) and other more current academic writings about “the absence of self-insight among the incompetent” (Ehrlinger) and “among the inept, researchers discover ignorance is bliss” (Goode). Many of these findings have been widely published in the US national media, including the New York Times. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538845405602465522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLB5AJySz4kDsvK9X4AjDd8AfFbWT557IAZfRHRWJ7UDVOFIIAqjMnbB5KnsWZCor3vLn55pLHgFopeNb9RVDCQBW3OkcYB4qJLfv0bEnKwXHrvPmHbx9w-I6Un62puI56KQsz9Y9wkkH/s400/incompetence02.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" />These syndromes of denialism and self-delusion are pervasive within SA’s ruling and BEE classes. People blithely take on a job that everyone knows they cannot do, but which they themselves don’t seem to realize they cannot do! We see this in the land redistribution policy where beneficiaries agree to run productive farms when they know they are incapable of doing so. They then blame the government, or mentors, or each other. We see someone in an expensive suit perched on the corner of an expensive desk being photographed as the new CEO, or the incoming “human resources manager”, or the new chairman of an organization. In many cases, this person is a token, it is well known that he is a token, but the subject himself seems to think he’s entitled to be there! Self-delusion and denialism are not new in South Africa. A report in the magazine YOU of 12 October 1995 revealed the degradation of small towns that had once thrived in the erstwhile Transkei. After the ANC took over in 1994, the decay set in and the town of Butterworth, for example, was described as “a wreck, with littered garbage in the streets and potholed roads. The century old town hall is neglected and the parks are overrun with weeds and rubbish.” Corruption, bad management and political infighting had taken their toll, said the article. Municipal management was “abysmal” and a debt of R50 million had already accrued. Nobody was paying for municipal services. Shortly after he arrived, the town clerk gave himself a salary raise R126,000 a year - from R20 000. (This pattern of deterioration repeated itself all over the old Transkei, and has been replayed all over South Africa since then). SHAME AND APOLOGIES? Was there any public acknowledgement by the ANC that it was not on top of the job, any requests for help, any promises to mend its corrupt ways? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyGyzTrCOnhop7mcZuZLQiFMU4Ljd9pxQhjqzq6IZ-nlZuHrrdEw4BwZ2Y3FbtCLJ14EEb9f_yqQtGFu_y4BG0U5wuK38an8s-LZtZxylZcVMY2qTPU1NwmtZBpTBXkkvuP8G4W9Z0yQh/s1600/denial-eyes-pants.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538846866618249186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyGyzTrCOnhop7mcZuZLQiFMU4Ljd9pxQhjqzq6IZ-nlZuHrrdEw4BwZ2Y3FbtCLJ14EEb9f_yqQtGFu_y4BG0U5wuK38an8s-LZtZxylZcVMY2qTPU1NwmtZBpTBXkkvuP8G4W9Z0yQh/s400/denial-eyes-pants.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 256px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>On the contrary, denialism was the aggrieved reaction. Then President Nelson Mandela declared there was “no crisis” in the Eastern Cape. After a two-hour meeting with officials on 10 September 1995, Mandela declared there was “no crisis” and that in fact the problems of civil servants “were not discussed”, nor was a report to the parliamentary finance committee on the situation in the former Transkei. Provincial premier Raymond Mhlaba was “totally trustworthy”, declared Mandela - “Mahlaba had been involved in the struggle for more than 40 years”. So that was that! Problems in the Transkei were due to “untrained staff”, said another provincial report, despite evidence that there was wholesale theft of funds. (How do you train someone not to steal?) This was the mindset then, and this is the mindset now! (Interestingly, the Eastern Cape from where the ANC’s chosen emanates, is the most decrepit, corrupt and incompetent province in the country. They even steal from their own children – from the budget to feed 1,42 million E.Cape children, the government department involved cannot account for more than R180 million of this budget!) Even the most accommodating liberal supporter of the ANC’s South Africa has turned, and they have turned with a vengeance. Noseweek’s editor says SA’s leadership is “corrupt and delusional and irrational”. Others say the government is “out of touch” and a “bunch of mental midgets”. CABINET RESHUFFLE President Jacob Zuma’s recent cabinet reshuffle was simply a ploy to enhance his chances of being re-elected in 2012 by removing political antagonists and replacing them with acolytes. (Citizen editorial 2.11.10) His administration has now been further bloated by extra appointments, and really incompetent persons such as Lulu Xingwana have remained as they are loyalists. Zuma is simply re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic! The implications of this denialism are far-reaching. Erstwhile honest taxpayers are now finding ways to avoid paying tax for more wives, more overseas trips, higher salaries, larger luxury vehicles and summits at Sun City! Our farmers are under siege, farmland is being destroyed by coal mining because top-level ANC friends have shares in coal companies, BEE has resulted in nothing more than the self-enrichment of a few, our health services will be destroyed by delusional dreams of a national health service underpinned by a shrinking tax base, threats to nationalize mining are taken seriously by investors, school and university certificates are in many cases not worth the paper they’re written on, farmers are accused of shooting labour inspectors without a shred of evidence, our water is polluted, our police force is corrupt and untrustworthy, our defence force a shadow of its former self, but the denialism is so entrenched that no advice is taken by government to alleviate the problems, and none is sought.. On the contrary, those who speak up are racists who don’t want to see blacks succeed! If present-day South Africa is an ANC success, then their failures are too terrible to contemplate!Source:- <a href="http://www.tlu.co.za/">http://www.tlu.co.za/</a>

Self-delusion and denialism within SA’s ruling and BEE classes

It is dawning on South Africa that there are two very separate and distinct mindsets at work in the country, and it seems never the twain wi...

2:20 PM

'Dear Government'

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixztUxfVNE4OL180rVcmKzdK51yJqtaYxB_-rB6bHfWcQkPTyJpUIISzozXgy5mKGxLUIXauOgb-WfyXme2ozyumG8f53RQHmYWFcyOmZWC0RQKNeXvGQ33IFveTwfzJ0-BC3rXcLn5Z1/s1600/garethcliff01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531739878972046594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixztUxfVNE4OL180rVcmKzdK51yJqtaYxB_-rB6bHfWcQkPTyJpUIISzozXgy5mKGxLUIXauOgb-WfyXme2ozyumG8f53RQHmYWFcyOmZWC0RQKNeXvGQ33IFveTwfzJ0-BC3rXcLn5Z1/s400/garethcliff01.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>Radio jock <a href="http://www.garethcliff.com/chronicles.php?articleid=791" target="_blank" title="Read entire letter on this link">Gareth Cliff's "Dear Government"</a> letter may have been criticised this week, but the Idols judge has done what many ordinary citizens – and journalists – have been unable to do. Not only did he get a prompt response from the Presidency to his letter but he also secured a meeting with President Jacob Zuma at the Union Buildings on Tuesday. Now his scathing attack on the government has spawned more public letters to Zuma, including one from University of the Free State head Jonathan Jansen, as well as a website, <a href="http://www.deargovernment.co.za/">http://www.deargovernment.co.za/</a> <div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="arcticle_text" align="left"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" class="arcticle_text" align="left"></div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.garethcliff.com/chronicles.php?articleid=791">Dear Government</a> OK, I get it, the President isn't the only one in charge. The ANC believes in "collective responsibility" (So that nobody has to get blamed when things get screwed up), so I address this to everyone in government - the whole lot of you - good, bad and ugly (That's you, Blade).</div><div align="left"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWobuvyWQNw5r47wnMWVHzHSa-kFqyeaaisDOcih9UeyTWRhXIcHc-Ftvb0wccu39hmncUfUTNqG4ZCoBolAY8OSt4gasenqJgelbMpZmIwJ4yYulB2vTleGVDPmxK3ECbJJ7bIaulTSBV/s1600/garethcliff01.jpg"></a>We were all so pleased with your renewed promises to deliver services (we'll forgive the fact that in some places people are worse off than in 1994); to root out corruption (so far your record is worse than under Mbeki, Mandela or the Apartheid regime - what with family members becoming overnight millionaires); and build infrastructure (State tenders going disgustingly awry and pretty stadia standing empty notwithstanding) - and with the good job you did when FIFA were telling you what to do for a few months this year. Give yourselves half a pat on the back. Since President Sepp went off with his billions I'm afraid we have less to be proud of - Public Servants Strikes, more Presidential bastard children, increasing unemployment and a lack of leadership that allowed the Unions to make the elected government it's bitch. You should be more than a little worried - but you're not. Hence my letter. Here are some things that might have passed you by: 1. You have to stop corruption. Don't stop it because rich people moan about it and because it makes poor people feel that you are self-enriching parasites of state resources, but because it is a disease that will kill us all. It's simple - there is only so much money left to be plundered. When that money runs out, the plunderers will raise taxes, chase and drain all the remaining cash out of the country and be left with nothing but the rotting remains of what could have been the greatest success story of post-colonial Africa. It's called corruption because it decomposes the fabric of society. When someone is found guilty of corruption, don't go near them - it's catchy. Making yourself rich at the country's expense is what colonialists do. 2. Stop complaining about the media. You're only complaining about them because they show you up for how little you really do or care. If you were trying really hard, and you didn't drive the most expensive car in the land, or have a nephew who suddenly went from modesty to ostentatious opulence, we'd have only positive things to report. Think of Jay Naidoo, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi and Zwelinzima Vavi - they come under a lot of fire, but it's never embarrassing - always about their ideas, their positions, and is perfectly acceptable criticism for people in power to put up with. When the media go after Blade Nzimande, Siphiwe Nyanda and the President, they say we need a new piece of legislation to "make the media responsible". That's because they're being humiliated by the facts we uncover about them daily, not because there is an agenda in some newsroom. If there had been a free press during the reigns of Henry VIII, Idi Amin or Hitler, their regimes might just have been kept a little less destructive, and certainly would have been less brazen and unchecked. 3. Education is a disaster. We're the least literate and numerate country in Africa. Zimbabwe produces better school results and turns out smarter kids than we do. Our youth aren't usemployed, they're unemployable. Outcomes-based-education, Teachers' Unions and an attitude of mediocrity that discourages excellence have reduced us to a laughing stock. Our learners can't spell, read, add or subtract. What are all these people going to do? Become President? There's only one job like that. We need clever people, not average or stupid ones. the failure of the Education Department happened under your watch. Someone who writes Matric now hadn't even started school under the Apartheid regime, so you cannot blame anyone but yourselves for this colossal cock-up. Fix it before three-quarters of our matrics end up begging on Oxford Road. Reward schools and teachers who deliver great pass rates and clever students into the system. Fire the teachers who march and neglect their classrooms. 4. Give up on BEE. It isn't working. Free shares for new black partnerships in old white companies has made everyone poorer except for Tokyo Sexwale. Giving people control of existing business won't make more jobs either. In fact, big companies aren't growing, they're reducing staff and costs. The key is entrepreneurship. People with initiative, creative ideas and small companies must be given tax breaks and assistance. Young black professionals must be encouraged to start their own businesses rather than join a big corporation's board as their token black shareholder or director. Government must also stop thinking that state employment is a way to decrease unemployment - it isn't - it's a tax burden. India and China are churning out new, brilliant, qualified people at a rate that makes us look like losers. South Africa has a proud history of innovation, pioneering and genius. This is the only way we can advance our society and economy beyond merely coping. 5. Stop squabbling over power. Offices are not there for you to occupy (or be deployed to) and aggrandize yourself. Offices in government are there to provide a service. If you think outrageous salaries, big German cars, first-class travel and state housing are the reasons to aspire to leadership, you're in the wrong business - you should be working for a dysfunctional, tumbledown parastatal (or Glenn Agliotti). We don't care who the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces is if we don't have running water, electricity, schools and clean streets. You work for us. Do your job, don't imagine you ARE your job. 6. Stop renaming things. Build new things to name. If I live in a street down which the sewage runs, I don't care if it's called Hans Strijdom or Malibongwe. Calling it something nice and new won't make it smell nice and new. Re-branding is something Cell C do with Trevor Noah, not something you can whitewash your lack of delivery with. 7. Don't think you'll be in power forever. People aren't as stupid as you think we are. We know you sit around laughing about how much you get away with. We'll take you down, either at the polls - or if it comes down to the wire - by revolution (Yes, Julius, the real kind, not the one you imagine happened in 2008). Careless, wasteful and wanton government is a thing of the past. The days of thin propaganda and idealized struggle are over. The people put you in power - they will take you out of it. Africa is tired of tin-pot dictators, one-party states and banana republics. We know who we are now, we care about our future - and so should you.</div><div style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none"> Source - <a href="http://www.garethcliff.com/chronicles.php?articleid=791">http://www.garethcliff.com/chronicles.php?articleid=791</a> </div>

'Dear Government'

Radio jock Gareth Cliff's "Dear Government" letter may have been criticised this week, but the Idols judge has done what man...

5:12 PM

The R4m luxury home Cele made you pay for

Official residence not good enough for top cop The government spent R4.2-million buying and furnishing a plush home for police commissioner General Bheki Cele in an exclusive Pretoria suburb of Waterkloof after he turned his nose up at the official residence he was offered. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UP0zeimjPrB7DvGZuucDd6RcyAVpgWqGx7EwqNaZAYIG3oi7V-QsDwynMjagEgAMgEzEWbMPzLGOXzS42fEfGHSH8cCGQGZjiY9Sk9R9GVUVEi4-z3omgwQM3u5XLozltJj2Lx8aZfYS/s1600/bheki+cele+house.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516121213338373746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UP0zeimjPrB7DvGZuucDd6RcyAVpgWqGx7EwqNaZAYIG3oi7V-QsDwynMjagEgAMgEzEWbMPzLGOXzS42fEfGHSH8cCGQGZjiY9Sk9R9GVUVEi4-z3omgwQM3u5XLozltJj2Lx8aZfYS/s400/bheki+cele+house.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" /></a>The house cost R3-million with transfer costs, and the SAPS forked out a staggering R1.2-million for luxury furnishings, including a R500000 home gym that is under construction. Cele's new house in Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria The SAPS appears to have kept the costs of decorating Cele's house just below the R500000 level that would require a tender by splitting the invoices between goods and services. Lavish furnishings came to R499800, and the interior decorator was paid another R249900 for her services. Documents show that while Cele was approving scaling back on services to poor communities in KwaZulu-Natal, his Waterkloof house was being fitted with every imaginable luxury. An approved Mirisa Interior quote includes: <ul><li>R8000 for upholstered queen chairs at the ends of an eight-seater wooden table; </li><li>R12500 for a braai-area day bed; </li><li>R5000 for a vase with artificial flowers; </li><li>R11000 for a Mombasa King headboard and base set in the master bedroom; </li><li>R27500 for three flat-screen TV sets, for the lounge and two bedrooms. </li></ul>This extravagance is at odds with the image Cele presented in parliament last week. He told MPs he was determined to root out consultants who are "there to milk - that money is huge", and vowed to ensure his department's scarce resources were spent on fighting crime, especially in poorly serviced rural areas. The home was bought - and paid for out of the SAPS budget - after Cele rejected a spacious house previously occupied by Asset Forfeiture Unit and Special Investigating Unit head, Willie Hofmeyr, in a secure police compound that would have cost taxpayers nothing. This makes Cele South Africa's first police chief since the end of apartheid - and possibly the only civil servant at director-general level - for whom a new house has been bought. Cele's predecessors, Jackie Selebi and George Fivaz, lived in privately owned homes. Government policy does allow officials in the security forces to be provided with housing. But a senior official in the Department of Public Service and Administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said this typically meant existing official accommodation, such as on a military base or police compound. "If a DG comes to live here (in Pretoria) from another province he must buy a property on his own," the official said. "To the best of my knowledge there are no other DGs who have had houses bought for them." This week, Cele said his procurement staff had to take the blame if there were any irregularities in buying and equipping his house. He stressed he did not own the house, and paid "rental" in the form of housing benefit deductions totalling R8968 a month. But this rental payment would account for roughly only R800000 of the purchase price. Cele argued that a plush interior was needed to entertain important guests. "If the head of Interpol visits me I don't want him to find me living in a shack or a house with one pot," he said. Cele's legal adviser, Lieutenant-General Julius Molefe, said the free house previously occupied by Hofmeyr, which is inside a guarded police compound occupied by its elite unit, the Hawks, was not deemed suitable because of "serious security concerns". It was also unfair to compare Cele with other top government officials. "He's not the DG of water affairs," said Molefe. Cele also came under fire this week for approving a 10-year lease for more than R500-million at inflated rentals without going out tender to house the new police headquarters in a building owned by a friend of President Jacob Zuma's, Roux Shabangu. The deal forms part of an SIU investigation also covering two leases signed before Cele was appointed. Today the Sunday Times can reveal the details of how Cele allegedly tried to strong-arm his generals into approving the Shabangu deals worth R1-billion. (see full story here) <a class="l" href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article653424.ece/We-were-forced-out-because-we-questioned-deals---generals" onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','','1','6t6MmMPxr_VHB8p8CdpWcQ','0CAgQFjAA')" resultindex="1">We were forced out because we questioned deals - generals - Times LIVE</a>

The R4m luxury home Cele made you pay for

Official residence not good enough for top cop The government spent R4.2-million buying and furnishing a plush home for police commissioner ...

12:11 PM

The fate of the nation

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA896MkKsachTwoRfHC0GWMWgBCCc8D5TOFSeTAS4jbAMIpVHW6b3U4CH9swjvCFZnG5gKPuTi7PtZeMl_Sw4hNBDPmvfaPboLseqgNBc7cuDLUMIOFCjUT5E1sJUZ0mrZkN9LN6X7_ts9/s1600-h/anc-terrorists.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447822865991085266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA896MkKsachTwoRfHC0GWMWgBCCc8D5TOFSeTAS4jbAMIpVHW6b3U4CH9swjvCFZnG5gKPuTi7PtZeMl_Sw4hNBDPmvfaPboLseqgNBc7cuDLUMIOFCjUT5E1sJUZ0mrZkN9LN6X7_ts9/s400/anc-terrorists.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px" /></a>John Kane-Berman Although many people are unwilling to read it, the writing is on the wall for South Africa. From the thuggishness of the police to moribund public schooling, from the endemic corruption of the ruling party to the chronic incompetence of the civil service, from assaults upon the Judiciary to official cowardice in the face of violent trade unions, from hazardous public hospitals to potholes in the roads, from failed land reform to declining life expectancy, from poisonous rivers to rampant crime and killer drivers, we are in trouble. What makes all of this worse is the contempt with which the government routinely treats the public, even as it filches more money from our pockets. Ministers - even the president - jet in to communities in violent revolt and make promises they have no more intention or ability to fulfil this time round than last. When a president with Jacob Zuma's track record wants to start a public conversation about morality, one can only conclude that he is either a complete and brazen cynic or-worse-that he does not understand that he has done anything wrong. When the Gauteng premier can send the cops to block off half Johannesburg for half the day while she makes a speech, you know we have a mini Mrs Mugabe in the making. We are not a failed state, but that is where we are heading. (The comrades don't notice this because they are forever busy with parties, launches, summits, lekgotlas, conferences, grandiose occasions, overseas trips, etc.) Even if South Africa can pull off a Soccer World Cup where tourists don't get mugged or raped to the extent that South Africans do, or where they don't disappear into potholes or down manholes, we all know that when the party is over the country will resume its downward slide. Bits of the place spruced up for the benefit of World Cup visitors will be nothing better than Potemkin Villages. Fortunately, criticism of the ANC's deployment policy and of poor public service is growing, even within the three-ring circus sometimes known as the tripartite alliance. Unfortunately, we know from the apartheid era how long it takes for failing policies to be reversed, even when the penny has dropped. But we also know from the apartheid era that change is not a function of government alone. The private sector, civil society, non-governmental organisations, and ordinary citizens can bring about change without waiting for the government. This is already happening in the labour field, where regulatory rigidities are being undermined by labour brokers and noncompliant clothing employers. Like apartheid, the ANC's ‘national democratic revolution' will eventually disintegrate.

The fate of the nation

John Kane-Berman Although many people are unwilling to read it, the writing is on the wall for South Africa. From the thuggishness of the po...

10:44 AM

Where the hell are we going?

<div align="left">Meltdown the inevitable result of ANC policies Dr. David Klatzow <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRScjp1Iun1DIAtY9_HcWiil3HYzt7ggrkuaRzbHEqAaRsQ8vvc8zc7ic-or6dNBcxI5oSWSRwKLjdjgIQoJoU2SDYPZDHqplJ4LDCgNnPYPIlBTVLbalAg-imAGVg1NR4_N8EbA7qc1P/s1600-h/ancpastsellbydate.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQfkBLXJkBbkXPK8kSRR3vR7AceIGTQ7-0PQElUsne1WW3iXhFsFyr_7dHsguUz0AysyrtAbzny3eGz-MlOqKNAx0NqH1eJWfy8MN8qo69bBDWw17MIDPI9mQvNwg6hMmrdXOl_IrNoI1/s1600-h/ancpastsellbydate.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443727198134663122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQfkBLXJkBbkXPK8kSRR3vR7AceIGTQ7-0PQElUsne1WW3iXhFsFyr_7dHsguUz0AysyrtAbzny3eGz-MlOqKNAx0NqH1eJWfy8MN8qo69bBDWw17MIDPI9mQvNwg6hMmrdXOl_IrNoI1/s320/ancpastsellbydate.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The ANC led alliance came to power with many stated and lofty ideals. They flowed from the American rhetoric of such greats as Martin Luther King. “An injury to one is an injury to all”; “Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere”. </div>Our government, post Madiba, has been slow to give reality to these lofty ideals. Mbeki (Mr. Delivery) turned out to be Mr. Non-Delivery. All functionaries in government were replaced by loyal party cadres. Everything became ideology driven instead of ability driven. Government interference in the universities has become much more overt and destructive than ever it was under the Nationalists. (Exemplified by the turnabout on the honorary doctorate for Thabo Mbeki). Our health system was functional to a high level, even for rural black and the urban “non-European” hospitals, whilst an abominable reflection of the apartheid system, worked well with standards high and no shortage of drugs and equipment. Now in 2010, we contemplate exactly what has been achieved in the 15 years of post Apartheid South Africa. A previous vice-Chancellor of UCT, Ramphele Mamphela, is on record as saying that Bantu Education was better than the mess we have now. Our hospitals are dysfunctional for all South Africans who are unable to afford private health care. The Johannesburg General, Groote Schuur, Pretoria Hospital and many others around the country are mismanaged to such an extent that they have become a threat to health. The hospital accounting systems are in a shambles and suppliers have cut off supplies until their bills are paid. The standards of repair and cleanliness have plummeted. The equipment, supplies and linen have been pillaged and pilfered. Recently at Groote Schuur I encountered a Neurology ward that had no toilet seats, no toilet paper, no soap and no towels. The chief neurologist there informed me that he would not use the toilets on his ward because they were too disgusting. The legacy of Manto Tshabalala-Msimang speaks for itself. Our police service is severely dysfunctional. Too many of the serving officers are corrupt. A recent PhD Thesis on the subject put it as 10% and probably higher. Out erstwhile chief cop, Jackie Selebi, stands accused of corruption whilst he was head of Interpol moreover. This is a national disgrace. The arrogance of the man to run around with the likes of the criminal gangsters that he associated with and not see the conflict of interests is astounding to say the least. The government, who should be doing all in their power to prosecute Selebi to the full, are wasting taxpayers’ money trying to keep certain witnesses out of court on the spurious basis of national interest. Our education system is a complete mess. We have the results of the OBE debacle to contend with where the only certainty is that we will produce a generation of educationally crippled youth. We have the ANC government with its ludicrous policies of “quiet diplomacy” which have allowed the stability of the region to deteriorate .The influx of refugees across our borders is fuelling xenophobic violence and is placing scarce resources under huge pressure. Our water supplies are dwindling and those that we have are polluted with faecal matter from the squatter camps along their courses. Cholera is waiting. Much of the water measuring equipment installed at key points on our rivers has been vandalized. The Cape Times (8/2/10) informs me that ‘DIRE SHORTAGE AT FORENSIC LABS STIFLES JUSTICE” What do you expect? In my private capacity as a consulting forensic scientist, I have been warning about this state of affairs for some years. Approximately 4 years ago I warned of the coming ”Melt Down”. To no avail. The analysts in the Health Department labs are appointed in terms of ethnicity and ideology and not in terms of their ability to do the work. When a previous head of the Laboratory in Pretoria, (Dr Viljoen), attempted to set an examination to regulate the incoming analysts he found that he was expected to appoint people who scored single figure results for the elementary chemistry examinations. The labs are swamped with incompetents and the work does not get done The net result was that he and the other heads of the laboratories have all left the state employ and are lost to the system. Their expertise is not even available to assist the state in pulling itself up by its bootstraps. At present there are nearly 5000 samples from the Salt River Mortuary which have not been analyzed. The talk is that they will be discarded. So much for justice. The departmental heads are not called to account for this disaster. Our courts have, for some time now, been grinding ever more to a halt because of the incompetence and disorganization of the laboratories that should be there to assist them. Morale at the police laboratories is low and the good scientists who are still there would leave if any other opportunities cross their path. Recently I became aware of a delay of 3 years in obtaining a post mortem report from the Tygerberg forensic department. This is just not good enough. I have not yet started on the disaster that is coming our way when the productive farms are taken and given to persons who cannot even use them for a proper subsistence, let alone a high technology productive farm to feed South Africa. There is only one way to stop the rot before it destroys the entire country. The government must stop the insane racist and aggressively affirmative policies that it has put in place. Corruption should be rooted out tooth and nail. All the available talent should be used in getting this country back on track. Stop the centralist interference in every aspect of our lives. It is not for the government to decide as to whether I may open a medical practice where so ever I wish. All that will happen is that the available source of doctors will dwindle as they head for greener pastures. The collective that have brought us to this pass will be blissfully prepared to blame it on the racist government. They are right there about the racism but it is their own racist policies that have brought us to the brink and not those of the previous dispensation. Education and security must take priority in government policies and non-performing ANC appointees should be kicked out forthwith. The business of suspension on full pay is an inducement to under-perform. Zuma is a national embarrassment is so many ways that it would be impossible to list them in the limited space at my disposal. However, his exuberant fecundity is the least of the issues. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v4V13oy0cq-oN9IGpLjaEKqkVSDVi8TOSlXQuJILr0jpIl37sXLfeL4RmpNGK7GRtll_Mueeah5mXbGqfIKwCZlMNY1eWIg7Pn3mJanXguaabdqPibRtgIdTlpF3QLL5AdGqh2sw_IJl/s1600-h/zumatoilet.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IxMahEzLHBiJ3oC3YfdFOOzDvy4ZI84e_cPlx4sXny_PYR2IqEj_f4tDuKZgAZDJPPqowFyEVO2HIdvVTlG0pUS1UuBqONQWAKH-79bg7tIcr9QNZqDvEz8kt6PoYv4P0iEyeRCiRj6T/s1600-h/zumastink.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441504303299291330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IxMahEzLHBiJ3oC3YfdFOOzDvy4ZI84e_cPlx4sXny_PYR2IqEj_f4tDuKZgAZDJPPqowFyEVO2HIdvVTlG0pUS1UuBqONQWAKH-79bg7tIcr9QNZqDvEz8kt6PoYv4P0iEyeRCiRj6T/s400/zumastink.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>My primary problem with Zuma is his lack of appreciation for anything other than immediate gratification without appreciation for the consequences. He says what he feels the audience wants to hear, without a jot of sincerity or any intention to perform. The appointment of Jon Qwelane as ambassador to Uganda sends the wrong message. Why send an openly homophobic man to a country where this lately achieved tolerance is under severe threat? Why appoint Menzi Simelani to his present position? The man is constitutionally and experientially unsuited to the job and in any event it kicks the notion of separation of power (enshrined in our constitution) in the teeth. One is left with the only rational conclusion that Zuma wants a pal who will not come after him in the little matter of corruption that seems to follow him like a black cloud. For a man who publicly demanded his day in court, he has gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid it. The disgraceful release on parole of Shaik is a slap in the face to our already foundering justice system. The only sense in which he was dying, was he was dying to get out and shop. Shame on you! It is high time, Mr Zuma, that you stop your philandering long enough to see that your party is systematically destroying this country. As a group, the ANC hierarchy is as racist and as corrupt as the Nationalists. History will judge you harshly. And by the way, we do not need aircraft (that nobody can fly) and corvettes to sit and rust in Simon’s Town, above education, policing and health. Maybe I could leave you as I started with two quotes from Martin Luther King: “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity”. And finally, ”A riot is at the bottom, the language of the unheard”. Dr Klatzow is an independent forensic consultant.

Where the hell are we going?

Meltdown the inevitable result of ANC policies Dr. David Klatzow T he ANC led alliance came to power with many stated and lofty ideals. The...

9:44 AM

Accident kills four Home Affairs officials

FOUR Home Affairs officials died after a head-on collision with a truck in Germiston yesterday. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZe6ntTNrF1VeRO5Y7d_53Wyc5haAK4f-79xHkmGNcZX_1lpZeNClNogZGwkb9_BTTppP6H7x5AeupMlobnHGifkIdccMmExp8rIMn_l7FD9dkSuUHIih7YwcUYJDl_hBnjyvGsWKD1k/s1600-h/Safe-Overtaking-and-Road-Safety-blog-300x245.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403597008233387778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZe6ntTNrF1VeRO5Y7d_53Wyc5haAK4f-79xHkmGNcZX_1lpZeNClNogZGwkb9_BTTppP6H7x5AeupMlobnHGifkIdccMmExp8rIMn_l7FD9dkSuUHIih7YwcUYJDl_hBnjyvGsWKD1k/s320/Safe-Overtaking-and-Road-Safety-blog-300x245.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px" /></a>According to Netcare spokesman Chris Botha, the four occupants were flung from the car and died on the scene. (Left) Basic rules of the road The collision happened along the Pretoria Road. “It is believed they were trying to overtake the vehicle in front of them when they crashed into (an oncoming) truck,” said Botha, adding that the car was “totally destroyed”.Nobody in the home affairs vehicle survived, but the truck driver was not injured.

Accident kills four Home Affairs officials

FOUR Home Affairs officials died after a head-on collision with a truck in Germiston yesterday. According to Netcare spokesman Chris Botha,...

1:31 AM

Bloggers in South Africa arrested

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Rrk8ExyE9IfNMJdzOK1Sq57dTj8VOiazgy5CnTTnFkwOvxqmZ8RyYPJ7NFt_ItwT-dYefB_s5QDJYCXQAscWCSZbZ4o4GJl3LP7Sjj7XPlHG16DulIKm8HowJACz2nIE0Ih97zmOe1c/s1600-h/BLOG+SAS.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401428584770118674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Rrk8ExyE9IfNMJdzOK1Sq57dTj8VOiazgy5CnTTnFkwOvxqmZ8RyYPJ7NFt_ItwT-dYefB_s5QDJYCXQAscWCSZbZ4o4GJl3LP7Sjj7XPlHG16DulIKm8HowJACz2nIE0Ih97zmOe1c/s400/BLOG+SAS.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px" /></a>In the last two days people from a few websites and blogs that are critical of the ANC led government have been arrested, three of which we know have been released with no charges made against them. It is clear that the South African government is cracking down on bloggers that are critical of the way they run the country and they want to censor the information these bloggers and websites give out. One of these is <a href="http://www.zasucks.com/" target="_blank">ZA Sucks</a>, where the blogger Uhuru Guru was arrested, spent the night in jail and was released with no charges. No word if he got his computer equipment back that was confiscated. <a href="http://www.zasucks.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.zasucks.com/</a> At another site Boerevryheid.co.za another two bloggers got arrested, their equipment taken and they were later released without charges, also no word if they got their equipment back. A lot of people claim that this is because South Africa wants the bad publicity to stop before the 2010 soccer world cup but instead of dealing with the crime directly they now try to scare these bloggers as some would say into shock. Another blogger of Boer Freedom has been arrested, also this time no charges after spending some time in jail. Some claim this is because they blog about the "boer genocide" that is taking place in South Africa. <a href="http://www.boerevryheid.co.za/voorblad/lang1/human_rights_violations.html">http://www.boerevryheid.co.za/voorblad/lang1/human_rights_violations.html</a> Whatever the reason, the government is kicking down doors and arresting people that are critical of them. South African blogger arrested, what happened? Many stories are going around after a blogger from a famous South African site <a class="ImLink" href="javascript:imPopUpWin(" onmouseout="imTipHide()" onmouseover="imTipShow(this,Array(2,2,7,7,35,35,18,1),180,'ffffff','606060','000000','Tahoma',8,0,0,'This is a must read, especially for those who ask how it happened that South Africa was handed over to ANC rule.',1)" title="">SA Sucks</a> got arrested. The blogger who goes by the name of "Uhuru Guru" got arrested yesterday as was reported in yesterday's news. Speculation why he got arrested is because of the white farmers that get murdered, pictures were posted on the internet about these murder victims and the brutality they suffered. Some of their heads are bashed in from the attacks where most times nothing is stolen. Many say that the South African government wants to censor the gruesome way in which white South Africans are murdered and want to keep the world from seeing what is currently happening in South Africa. They also think that this blogger's arrest is to stop the news of the current documented genocide. Whether "Uhuru Guru" got arrested for real reasons or whether freedom of speech in South Africa is under attack is still to be seen because no word has come out on why the blogger got arrested and thrown in jail with no charges brought against him. Related articles:- <a href="http://www.therightperspective.org/2009/11/04/ug-of-south-africa-sucks-arrested/" rel="bookmark" rev="post-7393" title="Permanent link to UG Of South Africa Sucks Arrested">UG Of South Africa Sucks Arrested</a> <a href="http://fto.co.za/news/south-african-blogger-arrested-2009110415721.html" jquery1257465858374="72"> South African blogger arrested</a> <a href="http://www.therightperspective.org/2009/11/05/sa-blogger-released/" rel="bookmark" rev="post-7398" title="Permanent link to SA Blogger Released">SA Blogger Released</a> <a href="http://fto.co.za/news/arrested-south-african-blogger-released-no-charges-made-2009110515724.html" jquery1257465858374="74"> Arrested South African blogger released, no charges made</a><a href="http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/2009/11/crime-bloggers-in-sa-arrested.html">Crime-bloggers in SA arrested</a>

Bloggers in South Africa arrested

In the last two days people from a few websites and blogs that are critical of the ANC led government have been arrested, three of which we ...

12:00 PM

Blade Nzimande gets R1,1m BMW 750i

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUg5jY7ABI7qDUOHYyJwuEoucjoMY9tcxJo71Wz53NQ-kr4mKuTY95retYuFBPfPbeVojPjLreKFxAABTGje2B_QWxOVeey5N3ZqNVM_cj5ZDOC8cDqnwXk6NHHW2zVKFAiS8eMyeFvI/s1600-h/blade+nzimande+sacp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376992392858053042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUg5jY7ABI7qDUOHYyJwuEoucjoMY9tcxJo71Wz53NQ-kr4mKuTY95retYuFBPfPbeVojPjLreKFxAABTGje2B_QWxOVeey5N3ZqNVM_cj5ZDOC8cDqnwXk6NHHW2zVKFAiS8eMyeFvI/s400/blade+nzimande+sacp.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 229px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 307px" /></a>SACP leader chooses top of the range car as ministerial vehicle Cargate: Hypocrisy reigns supreme - Blade's <a href="http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/NewModels/13/e15b9994f1534f72bac87024f5a6e133/First_drive_New_BMW_7_Series">R1.1m seven series BMW</a> The reply to a DA parliamentary question has revealed that the Department of Higher Education has purchased a new R1.1 million BMW 7501 for Minister Blade Nzimande. It is not insignificant that Nzimande is also the General-Secretary of the South Africa Communist Party (SACP). Speaking in this capacity, in June this year, and endorsing the principles and values behind Nelson Mandela Day, Nzimande stated: "...Nelson Mandela Day must also be a re-affirmation of the values he has come to represent - that of social solidarity, selflessness, dedication, equity and fairness! It is through the consistent inculcation of these values that we can roll back the greed, corruption and selfishness of capitalism." Two months later he has approved over R1 million for a luxury car, for his personal use - which is self-indulgent, unnecessary and extravagant. So much for rolling back the greed and selfishness of capitalism. It appears that only the very best will do for the leaders of the working class. In fact, when set alongside his recent comments, Minister Nzimande's purchase of this vehicle gets to the heart of what is wrong with this ANC government and its alliance partners. The ANC cannot understand the connection between the behaviour - or, more accurately, misbehaviour - of its public representatives, and the lives of ordinary South Africans. When a minister spends R1-million on luxury vehicles, that is R1-million less that can be spent elsewhere. Remember, this is the self-same minister who recently berated our leading academic research institutions for having too much money (which is was both technically wrong and principally wrongheaded). One wonders how many graduates R1.1 million could produce? [The SACP's reply to this statement can be found <a href="http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=141827&sn=Detail">here</a>].

Blade Nzimande gets R1,1m BMW 750i

SACP leader chooses top of the range car as ministerial vehicle Cargate: Hypocrisy reigns supreme - Blade's R1.1m seven series BMW The ...

2:34 PM

How your hard-earned tax-rands are being spent

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgixflFRhgeueYdJkczC1SN0bgkBzovuGmrVGKTIWd6xnryL1GbcsDyUFAUHqO867iQb4NTHS4ebIdMW4uSs7rr5lcAzNh0HWnjcOuuM-vTHiC-aY22OUQI3L9bkXZdaISazT5YDOCmc/s1600-h/dazille.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371702538589744722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgixflFRhgeueYdJkczC1SN0bgkBzovuGmrVGKTIWd6xnryL1GbcsDyUFAUHqO867iQb4NTHS4ebIdMW4uSs7rr5lcAzNh0HWnjcOuuM-vTHiC-aY22OUQI3L9bkXZdaISazT5YDOCmc/s400/dazille.bmp" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px" /></a>One of the advantages of having an opposition party which hounds the ruling party like a rabid dog is that we, the public, are thrown some tasty scraps. Sure, the DA has an agenda, but they are also one of the few entities which have the resources and determination to nail the government when it steps out of line. Take, for example, their <a href="http://www.da.org.za/campaigns.htm?action=view-page&category=7034&sub-page=7036" target="new">Wasteful Expenditure Monitor</a> — a nifty tool which catalogues all government expenditure that the DA deems wasteful. Currently, the running expense total is sitting at R79-million — pretty steep for a country in the grip of a recession.And while the DA's nosy neighbour routine does, at times, grow tiresome, they may well have a point when it comes to taxpayer rands. Are you happy that your hard-earned tax-rands have been spent on government bashes, new cars, and hosting an ousted Haitian president? We've selected some tasty titbits from the DA's expenditure list… Bashes: R18 030 369 <ul><li>R43 000 — Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Economic Development held a party to celebrate their budget vote speeches. </li><li>R33 300 — Department of Science and Technology budget vote party. </li><li>R10.6-million — The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal Zweli Mkhize's inauguration party. </li><li>R7-million — Money spent on the opening of the Free State legislature. </li><li>R104 407 — Department of Public Service and Administration budget vote party.</li></ul><ul><li>R41 558 — Department of State Security budget vote party. </li><li>R65 639 — The Department of Health held two parties to celebrate its budget vote speech in the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. </li><li>R52 365 — Department of Home Affairs budget vote speech party. </li><li>R90 000 — North West Education Department pampered their officials at a day spa. </li></ul>Vehicles: R18 665 177 <ul><li>R2.4-million — Department of Communications: two new BMW 750is with extras. </li><li>R1.7-million — Department of Education: BMW 730D and Range Rover Sport TDV8. </li><li>R11-million — Free State Provincial Cabinet: 10 Mercedes-Benz S500s and one Mercedes-Benz S600 for Premier Ace Magashule. </li><li>R796 003 — Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Mercedes-Benz S350 plus extras. </li><li>R1 362 361 — Department of Police: BMW X5 3.0D and BMW X5 Si.3.0. </li><li>R1 406 813 — Department of Science and Technology: two Mercedes-Benz S250s. </li></ul>Advertising: R6 200 000 <ul><li>R700 000 — Two full colour advertisements in the Sunday Times (R490 000) and the City Press (R209 000) to promote the minister of correctional services' budget vote speech. </li><li>R5.5-million — A new tourism website for the Durban City Council. </li></ul>Accommodation: R20 442 000 <ul><li>R200 000 — the National Commissioner of Correctional Services and the Gauteng Commissioner have been renting property (R30 000 and R35 000 per month respectively) despite both having access to official residences. </li><li>Over R20-million — The South African government has been hosting the ousted Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide at a cost of R5-million a year since 2004. He enjoys the same privileges as a Cabinet minister (car allowance, security and accommodation). </li><li>R242 000 — Parliament spent at least R120 000 hiring hotel venues for committee meetings, despite the availability of parliamentary meeting rooms. Approximately the same amount was spent on accommodation.</li></ul>

How your hard-earned tax-rands are being spent

One of the advantages of having an opposition party which hounds the ruling party like a rabid dog is that we, the public, are thrown some t...

8:03 AM

The fat of the land

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO8uBETWxYID1B_2NVrylzEIocdd2ITfvhyeo2pcP892koPD4jx2Yg448k8qMDwcrMPBMRqJOATsJBfnQC2vZkLAg_QV9x5WybypTHa7cMktvGYLVrg6X4GEg43mXnJXJg-zd5njlv-A/s1600-h/corrupt-parl.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364648632243509458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIO8uBETWxYID1B_2NVrylzEIocdd2ITfvhyeo2pcP892koPD4jx2Yg448k8qMDwcrMPBMRqJOATsJBfnQC2vZkLAg_QV9x5WybypTHa7cMktvGYLVrg6X4GEg43mXnJXJg-zd5njlv-A/s400/corrupt-parl.bmp" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 311px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" /></a>While pay demands and service delivery protests cripple South Africa, government leaders are still receiving luxurious perks. In addition to salaries ranging from R2,04-million for the president to R692  085 for an MP, political office-bearers receive a range of benefits such as medical aid, housing, luxury travel and fancy cars. Last week the Democratic Alliance wrote to Vusi Mavimbela, the director general of the presidency, to request that some of these privileges be curtailed, especially the allocation for official vehicles, which the party wants reduced from R929 000 to R663 780 a vehicle. Cabinet members and deputy ministers are entitled to two vehicles. The DA also wants to revoke privileges such as free use of the Blue Train and VIP lounges at airports, as well as corporate credit cards for ministers’ expenses on official trips. “We hope that the government will take these proposals seriously and will take the steps that are necessary to show that they, too, recognise the harsh economic realities that South Africa is confronting,” DA leader Helen Zille said in a statement. Even former ministers and deputy ministers still enjoy up to 40 complimentary business-class domestic air tickets a year. Newly appointed officials such as Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda have been criticised for buying top-of-the-range vehicles. Others, such as Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, have opted for more modest vehicles, while Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane still drives the Mercedes 4X4 that his predecessor left behind, and opted to get a Volkswagen for his Cape Town office. Cape Town mayor Dan Plato is still driving his Volkswagen Chico. On Thursday, Chabane announced that ministers’ car allowances will be reconsidered as part of a review of government spending. “Political office bearers have not broken any rules,” he said in connection with the ministerial purchases. But “recognising the sensitivity of the matter, Cabinet has established a ministerial task team to look at government spending in the context of the economic meltdown”. The team will be made up of Chabane, Gordhan and Richard Baloyi, minister of public service and administration, and will “advise Cabinet on how matters of this nature can be handled”. Benefits of high-profile service Here are some of perks that parliamentarians enjoy: President <ul><li>Annual salary: R2 040 780 </li><li>Corporate credit card </li><li>State funeral with full military ceremonial honours </li><li>Presidential guest house </li><li>Full salary for life after leaving office </li><li>Security for life after leaving office </li><li>R1,3-million annual contribution to medical aid </li><li>Free furnished accommodation in Cape Town and Pretoria </li><li>Free cleaning and maintenance of these residences </li><li>R3-million for two cars for Cape Town and Pretoria </li><li>Daily allowance when travelling abroad for tips, room service, reading material and normal liquid refreshments</li></ul>Deputy president <ul></ul><li>Annual salary: R1 836 745 </li><li>State funeral with prescribed military ceremonial honours </li><li>Corporate credit card </li><li>Full salary for life after leaving office </li><li>Security for life after leaving office </li><li>R1,3-million annual contribution to medical aid </li><li>Free furnished accommodation in Cape Town and Pretoria </li><li>Free cleaning and maintenance of the residences </li><li>R3-million for two cars for Cape Town and Pretoria </li>Ministers <ul><li>Annual salary: R1 561 223 </li><li>Rent-free house in either Cape Town or Pretoria </li><li>Domestic worker </li><li>Corporate credit card </li><li>Two official cars in Cape Town and Pretoria to the value of R1-million each </li><li>Free government transport for spouses and dependants </li><li>30 business-class tickets annually for minister and spouse for discretionary use </li><li>First-class international travel for official trips </li><li>Six economy-class tickets annually for children </li><li>Spouses can travel on official trips and enjoy same benefits as ministers </li><li>Use of South African Air Force aircraft </li><li>Free travel on the Blue Train </li><li>Use of VIP lounges at airports </li><li>Private office with 10 staff members including four secretaries </li><li>Official funeral </li><li>Security worth R100 000 a year at private residences </li><li>Free telephone and internet services </li></ul>Deputy ministers <ul><li>Annual salary: R1 285 700 </li><li>State-sponsored house in either Cape Town or Pretoria </li><li>Domestic worker </li><li>Two official cars in Cape Town and Pretoria to the value of R1-million each </li><li>Free government transport for spouses and dependants </li><li>30 business-class tickets for minister and spouse </li><li>Six economy-class tickets for children </li><li>Spouse may come along on official trips </li><li>Use of South African Air Force aircraft </li><li>Free travel on the Blue Train </li><li>Use of VIP lounges at airports </li><li>Official funeral </li><li>Corporate credit card </li><li>Private office with six staff members including two secretaries </li></ul>Members of Parliament <ul></ul><li>Annual salary ranging from R692 085 to R1 836 745 </li><li>Two-thirds contribution to medical aid </li><li>54,5% of pension fund contribution </li><li>Motor vehicle allowance up to R204 532 a year </li><li>Relocation costs to Cape Town </li><li>Travel costs of children at university and two domestic workers </li><li>Telephone costs of up to R3 553 a month </li><li>78 single air tickets in economy class </li><li>12 air tickets for children </li><li>Laptop and printer </li><li>Life insurance </li>Mercs 'a steal at reduced prices'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jqDtpY8ms3AQzZ-8sbNm96sSvGTTK5EJfi0XDtwIWoCvOej20A3ZyCVqnORPxXy0okvIZx82ywpR8E8Q_W8Dbk4wzxl0tSQke7k26cWBytVpr1PB0iBDypY0CgORhVQK1SmxclEjy_M/s1600-h/car-bling.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364643611101549458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jqDtpY8ms3AQzZ-8sbNm96sSvGTTK5EJfi0XDtwIWoCvOej20A3ZyCVqnORPxXy0okvIZx82ywpR8E8Q_W8Dbk4wzxl0tSQke7k26cWBytVpr1PB0iBDypY0CgORhVQK1SmxclEjy_M/s400/car-bling.bmp" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 253px" /></a>Free State Premier Ace Magashule and his ministers have become the latest members of government’s WaBenzi club after R11-million was splurged on new Mercedes-Benzes for the entire provincial cabinet, write Mandy Rossouw and Adriaan Basson. The revelation comes after a number of national ministers have had to explain their weakness for luxury vehicles in recent weeks. Topping the list was Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda, whose department spent R2,4-million on two top-of-the-range BMWs for his Cape Town and Pretoria offices. But Magashule has overtaken Nyanda as driver of the most expensive German sedan used by a South African politician. At a “discounted price” of R1,3-million, his Mercedes-Benz S600 eclipses Nyanda’s BMW 750i. Nyanda’s BM, which boasts extras such as body-roll stabilisation, electric sun blinds and high-gloss satin chrome, was a steal at R1,27-million. Magashule’s car makes Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s official vehicles -- an Audi A6 and Lexus GS300 at less than R600 000 each -- look frugal. The Merc S600 is the manufacturer’s flagship model and is designed to create “maximum comfort and safety” for both driver and passengers. The fully imported vehicle includes radar sensors that read road conditions, driving style and vehicle load. Passengers enjoy a gentle back massage that stimulates the back muscles, assists blood circulation and helps to prevent fatigue after a hard day’s work. The premier’s driver need not take his eyes off the road when he wants to change the radio station, CD or DVD that is fitted for passengers in the back seat, as these can all be operated from the steering wheel. The car is also fitted with its own telephone. In response to the Mail & Guardian’s questions, Teboho Sikisi, Magashule’s spokesperson, said the Free State government garage had bought the vehicles after an analysis of the most cost-effective way to transport MECs [provincial ministers]. According to him, ministers in former premier Beatrice Marshoff’s cabinet either drove their own cars and claimed exorbitant amounts for mileage each month, or their official vehicles exceeded the limit of 120 000km for public office-bearers. “Our analysis indicated that in the event that MECs used their own vehicles for official duties, their respective departments were paying between R30 000 and R45 000 a month on kilometres claimed, or between R3-million and R4-million per annum. This was very costly and unsustainable,” Sikisi said. The 11 Mercedes-Benzes were purchased as part of the Free State’s “asset base” and not for individual MECs. “The market value of each S500 is R1,3-million, but we got each for R970 000, representing a 40% discount. The market value of the S600 is R1,7-million and we got it at a discounted price of R1,3-million,” Sikisi said. “This, by any standard, is a good investment, since these vehicles constitute an asset base for the provincial government.” According to Sikisi the same arrangement is made for judges “and other VIPs” who are “clients” of the provincial government garage fleet. Through Sikisi, Magashule also defended spending R7-million on a function to mark the opening of the Free State legislature in June. “Given the nature of the event, the costs are justifiable and are normal compared with events of this nature and magnitude,” he said.

The fat of the land

While pay demands and service delivery protests cripple South Africa, government leaders are still receiving luxurious perks. In addition to...

5:02 AM

Bling BMW: A slap in our faces

"Ask Minister Siphiwe Nyanda what government officials do in a recession..." <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsidsgXnwomu3haC-4zTodH_T4wR8tvQLvLGru-JDx_MJL7c_ydysGy9jUc1jvVNtM6v5B7SedpVbeO80CrsTRs4h4YUiok-m9jWjpwMGtuMkh_A1xW7PKCmgCV3YWgNr2SGQDE3qB9R0/s1600-h/bmw-7-series02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361780089301435090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsidsgXnwomu3haC-4zTodH_T4wR8tvQLvLGru-JDx_MJL7c_ydysGy9jUc1jvVNtM6v5B7SedpVbeO80CrsTRs4h4YUiok-m9jWjpwMGtuMkh_A1xW7PKCmgCV3YWgNr2SGQDE3qB9R0/s400/bmw-7-series02.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" /></a>What does communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda do in the middle of a recession, where jobs are being lost, houses and cars are being repossessed by the thousand, most industries are in negative growth and we are all being told to watch our spending and tighten our belts? He goes out and buys, not one, but two top of the range luxury German cars with every extra under the sun attached, thus figuratively speaking running around beltless and shameless. I sit hear confused and irritated asking myself - what world do our ministers live in? In reality we are being encouraged to save and watch our spending. The government on the other hand, being the well-rounded role models they are, are living like rock stars with an endless supply of funds to buy luxury cars fit for heads of state in most rich first world countries. While we are grappling with the worst global recession in history our ignorant ministers are rushing out to luxury stores and buying like there is no tomorrow. Eskom, a state owned parastatal, is raising tariffs by 33%; the country is being lambasted by a wave of strikes demanding extra wages, everything is getting more expensive, house hold debt is at its highest in recorded history, and car sales are in negative growth along with most other sales of goods. Guidelines are flawed The prescribed guidelines for ministerial purchases are fundamentally flawed and its current practices are not in line with the current economic trends. How on earth can you justify spending R2.5m on two cars when you as a government are pleading poverty, raising taxes, paying your doctors pittances, not supplying your hospitals with the basic equipment used to save lives to name but a few on a very long list? Minster, I have a friend who was on a flight from Johannesburg to Durban after the final rugby test match between SA and the Lions. One of our senior rugby players and his family were spotted by cabin crew sitting in economy class with the rest of the common man. He and his family were invited to move into business class and he refused point blank saying "he was very happy where he was". I mention this purely to make a point that you don't have to take everything that is prescribed to you or your misdirected sense of entitlement deems necessary. This form of behaviour should be a lesson to you and all your "bling bling" cronies in government who are rewarding yourselves before you have even started doing your job. At the moment, the way things are going you should be riding a bicycle to the office or making use of our excellent public transport like everyone else. Minister I challenge you to inform the South African tax-paying public who bought these cars for you out of our hard earned taxes what ceramic surround for controls, ambient interior lighting, adaptive headlights, high beam assist, a three-spoke, leather-covered steering wheel, a R23 400 "rear-seat entertainment" system and a R5 600 "high-gloss satin chrome" paint job help you do your job? Maybe I am just ignorant but these extras are a slap in our faces. What is wrong with a standard 320d BMW? Most people only dream of owning a 3 series BMW, but you lift your nose up at it and go for the top of the range. Why do you need a 750i BMW? I will tell you why, because to you it's all about image, image at the cost of all else, as long as you look good in your designer suits, ministerial mansions, and luxury German cars everything else can fall to pieces. This form of behaviour has no place in a third-world country where more than half your population are below the bread line. No guilt? Minister, on a more personal level, how do you sleep at night knowing you just spent R2.5m on two cars, while so many South Africans can't even afford a roof over their heads? Do you justify your actions with bureaucratic guidelines and red tape? Shame on you and every other government official spending our taxes quicker than we can earn them. Every day you hear about another minister blowing the bank on some or other exorbitant spending spree or their officials running elaborate fraudulent schemes. Mr Jacob Zuma, the so called "president of the people" is also slipping into the cracks of gluttonous and unscrupulous spending with a new government which is clearly out of control and has no idea about the fundamental difference between money and wealth. Let it be known that you were voted in by the people, the same people who are struggling to make ends meet on a monthly basis. It is time for you and your government to humble yourselves and come down to our level. You are after all our employees; we pay your salaries and fit the bills for all of this reckless spending that has become the norm in the ANC. Lastly, to everyone who voted for the ANC. The next time you are on walking or driving on one of our roads and a 750i BMW with ceramic surround controls, ambient interior lighting, adaptive headlights, high beam assist a three-spoke, leather-covered steering wheel, a R23 400 "rear-seat entertainment" system and a R5 600 "high-gloss satin chrome" paint job screams past you at 180km/h throwing dust and rubber in your face, leaving your tiny insignificant image in its rear camera view, wipe the dust out of your eyes and take a look around and remember who you voted for. After all it's your vote that gives them the blank cheque. These officials should be held accountable for this blatant abuse of power and money. It's no wonder we are such an angry nation, our own government is misappropriating our taxes and hiding behind laws they created to protect their taste for the finest luxuries money can buy. As the late and great Winston Churchill said, "you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all the people all of the time." We are not fools, so next time you pop into your luxury store and buy some unnecessary item, know we are watching you, and we will not stop until you stop.

Bling BMW: A slap in our faces

"Ask Minister Siphiwe Nyanda what government officials do in a recession..." What does communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda do i...

10:40 AM

Education MP splurges R1,7m on luxury cars

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAoeQiBFYbmqgGmsAquDou3MnBM-gLvGD2p_Boc23uhRHCmkZ-QDCw2r4XK_TnegoqNcKvNsviwR0SQtXj6V_RRl3Ysd-tmqt0T8mzb_s27ohLdFgGKnuZN7-nJEMgYkDJ98K9ClRN_I/s1600-h/RangeRoverSport.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361561584295384114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAoeQiBFYbmqgGmsAquDou3MnBM-gLvGD2p_Boc23uhRHCmkZ-QDCw2r4XK_TnegoqNcKvNsviwR0SQtXj6V_RRl3Ysd-tmqt0T8mzb_s27ohLdFgGKnuZN7-nJEMgYkDJ98K9ClRN_I/s320/RangeRoverSport.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" /></a>Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga bought a BMW 7 series and a Range Rover Sport for use in Cape Town and Pretoria when she was appointed. The luxury BMW 730d, based in Cape Town, cost R894 500, while the sleek Ranger Rover Sport TDV8 she uses in Gauteng is valued at R807 000. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrH0dUuLi7nNYjgQ2p8JZ2RtdsWs48n6XNBj7yfZO1k0hTYaBXwrTtMSqamtBdw3Bow4-EyJxfcJfIKPZHhDvDEnvC3vpEn0g21adfc3l815rrOBPXNW1bXAT0RB4HeR66pWe17p_QxA/s1600-h/BMW-2010.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361557807446266274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrH0dUuLi7nNYjgQ2p8JZ2RtdsWs48n6XNBj7yfZO1k0hTYaBXwrTtMSqamtBdw3Bow4-EyJxfcJfIKPZHhDvDEnvC3vpEn0g21adfc3l815rrOBPXNW1bXAT0RB4HeR66pWe17p_QxA/s320/BMW-2010.bmp" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 163px" /></a> Less than a week after it was <a href="http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71654?oid=136533&sn=Detail">revealed that</a> Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda spent R2.4-million on two new luxury vehicles, the Department of Basic Education has confirmed in a reply to a DA parliamentary question that Minister Angie Motshekga has also purchased two new vehicles - one BMW 730D, and one Range Rover Sport TDV8 - at a combined cost of R1.7-million. In a written reply to a parliamentary question by the DA she said on Tuesday that the only extras fitted were mudguards, which cost an additional R2 500. for the Pretoria-based vehicle. The Cape Town car, she said, was not accessorised. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz0IEmgSfSiBu9y35rmljlBFnbS6bggmpszRYIJt6alvpMoJkFOm3J5JoVhuqkSVhXlz3QnoArCkrASWrkgLJ0cMOuIKnaXD2NaXWCEbqC8ngH39t193aduBUHYehL87GuKgUfamnBAo/s1600-h/Education%2520Angie%2520Motshekga.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361558359318193426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuz0IEmgSfSiBu9y35rmljlBFnbS6bggmpszRYIJt6alvpMoJkFOm3J5JoVhuqkSVhXlz3QnoArCkrASWrkgLJ0cMOuIKnaXD2NaXWCEbqC8ngH39t193aduBUHYehL87GuKgUfamnBAo/s320/Education%2520Angie%2520Motshekga.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" /></a>Motshekga said she bought the Range Rover because the car she was supposed to inherit on becoming minister was allocated to Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande. The BMW was bought because the vehicle she inherited in Cape Town would have reached the end of its cycle next month. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7jyfsEhqPyyYMzevKLgHDmE3_rguPdJ9jTnpKVJr8caKnGY61eWt-QABu60XV4TmyUtA7caGAvJ2MB5Bj48F50CsXBUIDWX7tP6mwLbvrIH5FzNlSOFL6WeKv-3wkikd6uhrOhuzhSg/s1600-h/RangeRoverSport.jpg"></a>According to the ministerial handbook, a minister may replace a vehicle when it has clocked up 120 000km or is five years old. Responding to the same question, Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi indicated he might buy new vehicles soon. Baloyi said the two cars he inherited - a 2004 BMW 530d and a 2005 Mercedes Benz E350 - had travelled 106 238km and 119 410km respectively. This meant they were almost at the end of their lifespan in terms of ministerial guidelines. However, he did not say when he would buy new vehicles, or what models he would opt for. A departmental spokesperson said this information would be provided at a later stage. Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, who has been in government for years, said he was still using two Mercedes Benz S350 models which he bought three years ago.Opposition says minister two new state cars are extravagant and unnecessary A copy of the reply follows below. This sort of spending is extravagant and unnecessary - certainly it far exceeds the Minister's needs, the triumph of status over prudency. To put this kind of expenditure into context, if every government department is to spend this amount on new vehicles for its Minister over the course of the next year or years, it will cost the taxpayer approximately R60-million. In delivering his budget vote to Parliament, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan warned that the state had to be more disciplined in the way it manages its money. He stated: "After seven years of growing budgets and rising revenues there is a degree of fiscal looseness in the system and now is the time to tighten up on that looseness." He continued, "Money is not the problem ... it is how we spend the money. This has to improve. In several sectors, budgets have grown exponentially but outputs have not increased in tandem". That request seems to slipped passed the national administration's attention unnoticed. The ANC government's continued misuse of public funds aside, South Africa is in the grips of a recession and of all people the Minister of Basic Education should be finely attuned to the strain on finances available to government and the urgent need for resources to be devoted to productive purposes. Nowhere is this more urgent than in education, where ordinary teachers and principles battle to come out on their salaries at the end of each month. There is absolutely no reason that a new minister should be spending R1.7-million on luxury vehicles. The general public outrage that followed last week's revelations over Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda's R2.4-million vehicles demonstrates that the South African public is not willing to tolerate this kind of exorbitant wastage. The DA will be submitting a follow up parliamentary question to establish how this expenditure could possibly be of public interest.

Education MP splurges R1,7m on luxury cars

Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga bought a BMW 7 series and a Range Rover Sport for use in Cape Town and Pretoria when she was appoin...

12:13 AM

Minister blings up luxury cars

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23as3u-QOdBr5hXJlbtLQj4JwQOjP18jUdK_W69VylN9SqAO8RDMvYV7z3oLIYPEktzcfIjawrNWUeoCtMV8bgrQxL5Xzhuwof3RkYvY0RCCZuibThpxHy0J_6RvAvaUNe5cm7ZUYsUw/s1600-h/BMW-WTF1"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359211091694112162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23as3u-QOdBr5hXJlbtLQj4JwQOjP18jUdK_W69VylN9SqAO8RDMvYV7z3oLIYPEktzcfIjawrNWUeoCtMV8bgrQxL5Xzhuwof3RkYvY0RCCZuibThpxHy0J_6RvAvaUNe5cm7ZUYsUw/s400/BMW-WTF1" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px" /></a>New Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has treated himself to a pair of German luxury cars, one to use in Pretoria and the other in Cape Town. In a written reply to a parliamentary question, posed by the Democratic Alliance, he said the new vehicles - both <a href="http://www.wheels24.co.za/Content/NewModels/13/e15b9994f1534f72bac87024f5a6e133/First_drive_New_BMW_7_Series">2009 BMW 750i models</a> - cost R1 135 500 each. His reply also reveals that the cars are fitted with R148 400 worth of extras, including, in the Pretoria-based vehicle, a R23 400 "rear-seat entertainment" system and a R5 600 "high-gloss satin chrome" paint job. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeTbA6tKvZMaU5PT9UY6PCHUAuG6QINNnxHR4rajpUyb6kpjmFPf-_mAmzY5cwXO2ZlGzCeJGtOUghRdaJyeT1HjRi1JArpkaqkaOgnwRRoxo0AQSYeL8WGT3YZbzo_uBIYD1Hf6_-tw/s1600-h/minister-of-communiccbeed7.jpg"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeacrepe7N5_kVJeu0yYua3okHktRYOiRgEHKn8y5JVjLoBzAIGpDY0Z6jljWrGBmaU5BUzUeILzCJ2hPJY53v6zKchvjX0V7y5FmfzBh6TzbdswMVkgXZTWhYF26nNXQz4kN6M3irGg/s1600-h/minister-of-communiccbeed7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359213653135863618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTeacrepe7N5_kVJeu0yYua3okHktRYOiRgEHKn8y5JVjLoBzAIGpDY0Z6jljWrGBmaU5BUzUeILzCJ2hPJY53v6zKchvjX0V7y5FmfzBh6TzbdswMVkgXZTWhYF26nNXQz4kN6M3irGg/s320/minister-of-communiccbeed7.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" /></a>Nyanda said the existing official vehicles available for him had either done more than 120 000km, or were more than five years old, and in terms of the Cabinet-approved Ministerial Handbook he was entitled to new ones. "The vehicle for use in Cape Town was nine years old, and had reached 115 072km. The vehicle for use in Pretoria was four years old, and had reached 137 194km," he said. Extras... His new Pretoria vehicle has an array of extra features. These include a R35 800 "innovation's package inclusive of... rear-view camera, ceramic surround for controls, ambient interior lighting, adaptive headlights, high beam assist, lane departure warning [and] lane change warning". Its Cape Town twin is fitted with a three-spoke leather steering wheel. It too has a rear-view camera. In a statement on Thursday, DA communications spokesperson Lindiwe Mazibuko described the purchase of the vehicles as "frivolous and a massive waste of public money". Her party would be submitting follow-up questions on the matter. "During this time of economic crisis when hundreds of thousands of ordinary South Africans are losing their jobs and businesses across the country are shutting down, government should be setting the tone for austerity and sound financial management," she said.

Minister blings up luxury cars

New Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda has treated himself to a pair of German luxury cars, one to use in Pretoria and the other in Cape...

4:17 PM

Ousted Haitian president costing SA taxpayer R5m a year

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8_Vuv5UPmACssi6mmvHCvW7FfygrV7VAM64XLlOJkedlBL14EyuQZgaOhQvN6FcFnleN6P0B3br04nLEHqtgSU6tiMi_y-Thv4A_zE4wYCHZKoOKvqkpJCjnoAWLTM5eQZ_aPNZOZII/s1600-h/aristide_afp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352538650449932706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8_Vuv5UPmACssi6mmvHCvW7FfygrV7VAM64XLlOJkedlBL14EyuQZgaOhQvN6FcFnleN6P0B3br04nLEHqtgSU6tiMi_y-Thv4A_zE4wYCHZKoOKvqkpJCjnoAWLTM5eQZ_aPNZOZII/s320/aristide_afp.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" /></a>Ousted former Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide is continuing to receive special treatment from the state with state-funded accommodation, office staff, transport and security equivalent to that provided to a Cabinet minister. A conservative estimate puts Aristide's total annual cost to the South African taxpayer at upwards of R5-million. TAXPAYERS are coughing up about R5-million a year to host ousted Haitian president Jean- Bertrand Aristide, the DA claimed yesterday. Kenneth Mubu, the party’s spokesman on international relations and co-operation, used details obtained in Parliament to outline the costs of providing a safe haven for “a powerful man with a tainted reputation”. The international relations department confirmed that Aristide has lived in Gauteng since taking refuge in South Africa in May 2004. He was ousted from power in Haiti after months of political instability. Former president Thabo Mbeki’s government said at the time that Aristide’s stay in the country would be a “temporary arrangement until the Haitian situation stabilises”. But, five years later, Aristide is still here and the DA now wants to know the cost of his continued presence in the country. Mubu said that the department’s answers about Aristide have not been satisfactory and that the DA is now planning to investigate the matter further. It is believed that Aristide, as a government guest, enjoys similar living arrangements to those of Cabinet ministers. “The monthly costs related to his [Aristide’s] accommodation, transport, office staff and security are similar to the cost associated with a South African Cabinet minister,” the department confirmed in its reply to Mubu. The department added that keeping the former Haitian president safe was “integrated into the operations of government”. Mubu said a “conservative estimate” meant that taxpayers were parting with at least R5-million a year for Aristide’s stay. He said ministerial houses were valued at R3-million to R4-million and the value of an annual car allowance stands at R1.2-million. “The reply does not say how many staff are employed to manage Aristide’s affairs, but if he employs three people, this could easily be costing the state R500000 a year,” said Mubu. He said VIP state security for President Jacob Zuma costs R1-million a month but, for Aristide, it could cost R600000 a year — if it’s “even a 20th of this [Zuma’s security]”. “South Africa has to cope with a flood of refugees fleeing persecution and corrupt government. If we are to spend money on refugees, we should rather spend it on processing the applications of those who are really in need, not on maintaining at enormous expense a powerful man with a tainted reputation,” said Mubu. The Times contacted Nomfanelo Kota, spokeswoman at the department of international relations and co-operation, but she said the department would only be able to comment today.

Ousted Haitian president costing SA taxpayer R5m a year

Ousted former Haitian leader Jean-Bertrand Aristide is continuing to receive special treatment from the state with state-funded accommodatio...

4:16 PM

Gauteng government R50-m hospital food debt crisis

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRQtBX5h0JG8wSiLYpBVvxCdoFmQV_qeaUPcFt0DApYcZBPNr3HTEJ_H_cvKOfTdv3gBIABUHo0WMaq962VjiMQpQYMCSYeeX__rvdJq_KuNMEF7el1H7SpTh_8p1X0u4Ebou7v-HgDpR/s1600-h/mot-consistency.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338428111770359890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRQtBX5h0JG8wSiLYpBVvxCdoFmQV_qeaUPcFt0DApYcZBPNr3HTEJ_H_cvKOfTdv3gBIABUHo0WMaq962VjiMQpQYMCSYeeX__rvdJq_KuNMEF7el1H7SpTh_8p1X0u4Ebou7v-HgDpR/s320/mot-consistency.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 268px" /></a>Hospitals in Gauteng owe millions of rands to food supply and distribution companies - with some city institutions being the worst culprits. One of the worst Pretoria hospital debt offenders is George Mukhari Hospital near Ga-Rankuwa, which owes the Midland Meat company R765 000. The hospital, which is now securing other suppliers, is also believed to owe hundreds of thousands of rands to other food suppliers. Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital in Pretoria held a fete on Saturday in an attempt to raise desperately needed funds. Hospital staff say the money generated by the event is desperately needed so that the cash-strapped hospital can function properly. Midland Meat says Weskoppies owes it R230 000. The company has now stopped supplying the institution until it is paid. According to sources the Pretoria News has spoken to, the amount owed to the food companies by the provincial government is close to R50-million. It appears that no plans have been made for the province to settle its debts. Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe's April 14 deadline for all payments to be made has come and gone, and hospitals, according to former food suppliers, are now tendering with new suppliers and distributors. Documents and emails in the Pretoria News's possession from city hospitals confirm a huge debt and show that companies are withholding supplies. In an email Steve Biko Academic Hospital chief executive Dr Ernest Kenoshi confirmed to the DA's Jack Bloom that contracted suppliers had stopped supplies to the hospital. "Yes, it is true that contracted suppliers of baby formula milk, bread and meat have stopped supplies, giving as a reason long overdue payments through the GSSC system. See - <a class="entry-title-link" closure_hashcode_cqjm2c="904" href="http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1003657" target="_blank">Still no baby formula for HIV mothers </a><a class="entry-title-link" closure_hashcode_cqjm2c="718" href="http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=1004685" target="_blank">Mother feeds baby black tea </a> "However, there are no shortages of these items in the hospitals as we have activated our contingency plans to keep patients fed all meals by obtaining deliveries from other suppliers. "We are in constant discussions with the suppliers on a daily basis and also working daily with GSSC to expedite payments." The GSSC is the Gauteng Shared Services Centre which falls under the provincial Finance Department and deals with all supplies to hospitals. Another Pretoria hospital seeking new food suppliers is Kalafong Hospital, near Atteridgeville. A letter from the hospital superintendent, Dr Lancelot Phalatsi, to the Gauteng Health Department's services branch acting head, Dr P Maduna, lists 12 companies that have stopped supplying the hospital. Phalatsi, in his March letter, says: "This is not an exhaustive list; we are still working on a complete report." A memo from the hospital's procurement department, which is attached to the letter, states: "As can be seen, all these companies supply food and therefore have a direct impact towards patients. "The following are just a few (companies) that continuously query their account with us … please find copies of our commitment register to the GSSC of orders that we sent from November 2008 until today that are still not paid." Andre Hattingh, Midland Meat's hospital tender accountant, said they were owed R3.4 million from deliveries to 30 Gauteng hospitals dating back to 2007. "Of this money R1.7 million is from Pretoria hospitals. "The department has given us every excuse imaginable for not paying us," he said. Hattingh said the city's worst offending hospitals were George Mukhari Hospital, which owed R765 000; Steve Biko Academic Hospital (R239 000); Weskoppies Hospital (R230 000); Kalafong Hospital (R163 000); and Jubilee Hospital (R114 000). He said they had stopped deliveries and would only restart them once payments had been received. Seef le Roux, Mageu Number One's financial executive, whose company has stopped deliveries to Kalafong, Weskoppies and Steve Biko Academic hospitals, said they had had problems since they had first tendered for the hospital food contract four years ago. The company supplies Mageu, a maize drink product. "We are owed R80 000 and so far we have written off R40 000 worth of debt and are looking at writing off more debt. "The department's excuses are ridiculous and we will stop further deliveries if we are not paid," he said. Bloom said the payments disaster had to be sorted out. "We need to ask why the provincial government is not paying its debts as we cannot have hospitals making alternative arrangements only to run into debt again because the province can't pay," he said. Despite promising to respond to questions e-mailed, the Gauteng Health Department failed to comment by the time of going to print. See also - <a href="http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=6bf4b7a2ab761210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default" title="Gauteng baby formula backlog cleared">Gauteng baby formula backlog cleared</a>

Gauteng government R50-m hospital food debt crisis

Hospitals in Gauteng owe millions of rands to food supply and distribution companies - with some city institutions being the worst culprits....

11:22 AM

South Africa P.I.G.