Many people have been
complaining about the level of political grandstanding that is happening in our
Parliament lately. There are concerns that while politicians are busy shouting
at each other, we are not, as a country, dealing with the serious challenges
that we have. We do have serious challenges in South Africa such as
unemployment (particularly youth unemployment), poverty, inequality, the
slowing economy and many more.
Look, this is my view:
political grandstanding is part of the game. That is what politicians do and it
is not about to change. What would make our country succeed though is having
skilled people, who are camera shy working behind the scenes to make the
country work. I believe, for example that ordinary Members of Parliament, the
so-called backbenchers should not be aspiring political leaders. The ruling
party and opposition parties should appoint technocrats and administrators who
will work while their leaders are competing for media attention.
The same applies to Government.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers are politicians. They will continue to do what
politicians do. We can’t change that. What we need is the professionalization
of the civil service. From the Director General, Deputy Director Generals, Chief
Directors, and Directors and all the way to the lowest position, we need people
who have skills. We need people here who
do not necessarily have political ambitions. We need professionals who can just
get on with the job. Of course, professionals need an environment where they
will be given enough autonomy to do their jobs. Politicians need to give
professionals space to do that. They need an assurance that they will not be
made scapegoats when politicians have messed up.
One of the biggest challenges
we have in our country though is that the skilled professionals want nothing to
do with the Public Sector. Many of my educated, middle class friends wouldn’t
be caught dead working for the State. Here’s my question then: if all the
skilled professionals are not interested to work for the State, who will? I
will tell you who will. The people, who are unskilled, politically connected
and low ranking politicians who could not make it to the list of Parliament or
any similar lists will do it. The problem with those people is that, at the
core, they are politicians who are probably bored with office work. They will
collect their salaries at the end of the month but will not add much value.
We need skilled professionals
to join the Public Sector desperately. Will you consider working in the Public
Sector? Your country needs you.
Regards,
Regards,
SM.
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