Minister Creecy leading the way with board interventions
We rise or fall depending upon the strength of our institutions.
It’s a governance cliché of relevance considering recent news events, notably the bungled appointment of the new Transport Economic Regulator board.
Earlier this month Transport Minister Barbara Creecy reportedly balked at a list of TER board appointees, which included names not commonly associated with transport expertise. Creecy’s spokesperson, Collen Msibi, confirmed the list had been sent back to Cabinet for a review.
Creecy’s intervention to safeguard the integrity of the TER is, of course, most welcome. However, the fact that it is required raises concern about government’s commitment to transparency and good governance. The TER, supposedly a critical component of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic reform programme, is intended to regulate all modes of transport, and as such is central to the country’s economic ambitions.
It would seem obvious that the TER requires members of the utmost integrity who are beyond reproach.
Apparently not.
The matter is even more concerning because it follows governance issues – and interventions – at a broad sweep of other institutions, among the Road Accident Fund and the Industrial Development Trust. Last month Creecy took the bold step of dissolving the RAF Board. In a media statement she said the move followed “persistent governance and operational challenges that have beset the RAF and significantly undermined its ability to discharge its statutory mandate.”
SAA and Transnet have also seen board changes aimed at bolstering governance and operational efficiency.
The interventions go beyond the transport sector. Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane was called to task for endorsing some questionable appointees to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). One of these appointees was Buyambo Mantashe, son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.
In that case the matter was swiftly addressed by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.
The Cape Chamber welcomes intervention to safeguard our critical institutions. Creecy appears to be in a hurry to strengthen the institutions under her watch, and for good reason; bold action is required to restore confidence in government structures weakened by cadre deployment.
Weak appointments undermine our ability to grow our economy and deliver much-needed public services.
Weak appointments therefore also condemn many citizens to poverty.
As Ghandi said: Poverty is the worst form of violence.”
John Lawson
CEO of the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry