CHOP, CHOP, CHOP

This is yesterday's post

Well I'm not sure that the "dead wood" would be 'staring' back at them, however having said that, I am convinced that there would be huge piles of 'dead wood' all over the place!

Although I have a huge problem with the apparent 'shooting of the messenger', I am even more concerned about the fact that all these incidents are not even acknowledged as a problem and the few that do get acknowledged as a problem are then blamed on someone else and/or on apartheid. No-one seems to be able to stand up and be counted. How is this possible? Surely if you are big enough to land the cushie job and reap the rewards thereof, you should also be held accountable!

Chop, chop, chop
17 August 2007 07:59


Tu true

"We want our society to be characterised by vigorous debate and dissent, where to disagree is part and parcel of a vibrant community, that we should play the ball, not the person, and not think that those who disagree, who express dissent, are disloyal or unpatriotic."

We were reminded of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s powerful message at the Nelson Mandela lecture three years ago after witnessing a series of events that pointed to a mounting clampdown on those who might not even voice dissent, but merely blow the whistle on incompetence and corruption. Rather than listening to the messengers, or at least suspending judgement until their claims have been thoroughly tested, the growing reflex of those in authority is to shoot from the hip.

In Parliament the outgoing SABC board, backed by one or two MPs, vowed to hunt down the person who leaked an internal audit report that made alarming allegations of nepotism, fraud and corruption at the corporation. Deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge was fired, in large part because of the alarm she sounded on conditions at Frere Hospital. And this week the Eastern Cape health department suspended Dr Nokuzola Ntshona, who wrote to President Thabo Mbeki highlighting the conditions at Frere.

As the Freedom of Expression Institute reminded us this week, another Eastern Cape doctor, Costa Gazi, was fired by the health department for publicly criticising Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. The M&G understands Prisons Minister Ngconde Balfour has suspended a senior medical officer, Paul Theron, and a chief nurse, and subjected them to discipline after they approached Parliament about conditions at Pollsmoor Prison. In the private sector, a similar culture is apparent. “Inability to work within a collective” is one reason Mbeki gave for dismissing Madlala-Routledge -- what this really means is her public acknowledgement of the shortcomings in public health policy and institutions and her disagreement with those who want to sweep incompetence and maladministration under the carpet.

Rather than tackle the real problems, let’s tackle her. The sad fact is that a culture of intolerance and denialism has engulfed the highest levels of government. Faced with a potentially embarrassing disclosure, this says: flatly deny there are problems, attack and smear the source and cry conspiracy. It runs counter to two Acts that encourage open governance and were passed by the same government that now seeks to flush them, if not in material terms then certainly in substantive ways.

Both the Promotion of Access to Information Act and the Protected Disclosures Act encourage access to information and whistle-blowing by protecting those who blow the whistle. As Tutu reminded us, criticism and the exposure of malfeasance is not unpatriotic. In fact, it is the duty of all South Africans interested in safeguarding and strengthening our democracy.

Chop, chop, chop

Angered by the axing of the deputy health minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge this week, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the government was filled with “untouchable dead wood”. For this -- and the statement that leaders were kept on until they died in office -- he was rapped over the knuckles. Vavi is given to colourful terminology -- who can forget his description of ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma’s bid for the top job as “an unstoppable tsunami”. He could have been more circumspect in his remarks: there is little doubt that both Dullah Omar and Joe Slovo, among those who died in office, played a more than honourable role in the struggle against apartheid and the struggles of the first years in government.

But, seriously, who can argue with his comment about “untouchable dead wood”? The ruling party’s parliamentary caucus invited Vavi to identify the dead wood in question. As a gift for Vavi’s wedding on Saturday, we would like to provide some assistance in drawing up his list:

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Need we say more?

Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri. Despite the government’s repeated insistence on the economic importance of cheaper telecommunications, Telkom remains entrenched in its monopoly position.

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula. Despite increased budgetary allocations from the national treasury, crime rates are growing. And the thoroughly compromised commissioner, Jackie Selebi, is still in the job.

Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla and Prisons Minister Ngconde Balfour. The criminal justice system is not easily fixed, but Mabandla has been unable to move beyond stalemate with the judiciary on draft legislation to restructure the courts and change the way judges work. In the prisons overcrowding and graft remain huge problems.

Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Appears completely clueless about what to do with problems in her department.

All provincial premiers except Gauteng’s Mbhazima Shilowa; KwaZulu-Natal’s S’bu Ndebele; the Western Cape’s Ebrahim Rasool and the North West’s Edna Molewa.

The ANC’s parliamentary caucus should take a hard look in the mirror. Except for about 20 switched-on, accountable MPs, dead wood will be staring back at them.