As South Africa marks 100 days of the Government of National Unity (GNU), the Black Business Council has singled out some notable gains recorded in the country which it believes have contributed considerably in service delivery.
One notable example was the consistent supply of electricity across South Africa, post the May 29 general elections, which many doubted given the frequent bouts of load shedding the country previously experienced.
IOL reported in June that a GNU had been formed, led by the African National Congress (ANC) which invited several parties including its arch-rival the Democratic Alliance (DA).
In the May 29 general elections, the ANC received its worst election result since apartheid ended 30 years ago in South Africa. The ANC garnered 40% of the vote, losing its absolute majority in Parliament.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, manoeuvred carefully and began his second term in the seventh administration after his party formulated the GNU which also incorporates other smaller parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA).
Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, chief executive of the Black Business Council, Kganki Matabane said not many people in South Africa would believe that a steady supply of electricity would continue long after the polls in May.
“So far it has been a mixed bag. Starting with the president, I think he has done a very sterling job in terms of bringing different people from different parties and elect them into an executive, a government,” he said.
“You can imagine that those types of discussions could not have been much easier because of where the parties were during the campaign. We want to say the president has done a very good job in making sure that we at least have a government,” Matabane said.
“When we look at the 100 days, there a few shining lights, starting with for example the Minister of Electricity (and Energy),” he said.
“We are now on day 200 and something with no load shedding and that basically before the elections we thought we were dreaming. Remember the doom-sayers were saying they are just keeping the electricity for elections.”
Matabane said Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has proven that there were endemic engineering problems at Eskom and he is equal to the task with his engineering background and competence.
Although the stability of electricity supply pre-dates the formation of the GNU, Matabane insisted that the political arrangement has to take the credit for the continuity which happened under the seventh administration.
“You can say the GNU is doing is very well as far as that is concerned. Minister Parks Tau as well, he is one of those shining lights When he got there (at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition) he found a department with basically everyone acting,” Matabane said.
“People used to call it Hollywood, and the first thing that he did was to advertise all the positions to make sure that we have capacity.”
Matabane said the DTIC is such a critical component of the government and could not have been sufficiently run with staff on an acting mandate.
He also singled the Department of Home Affairs under the leadership of DA's, Dr Leon Schreiber.
“They have been able to do a lot of work in terms of the backlog … a lot of business people had been frustrated with how long it takes to get a work visa for experts. There is that movement,” said Matabane.
He also applauded the energetic Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie.
“He admits that he is very, very happy. He is doing very well I think. One thing that I think he wants to do is to bring the Formula 1 to South Africa and that will bring a lot of visitors to South Africa and bring a lot of business into the country,” Matabane said.
“So far, the other ministers are still finding their feet and I think so far I things are going well. I think the complicated, sophisticated economy is doing well, the rand is doing well and the JSE is doing well. What needs to then happen is to convert this Rama-phoria or the GNU sentiment won’t fizzle out and will be utilised to do the real things that needs to be done.”
He said the GNU and all officials are faced with the mammoth task of reducing unemployment, grow the South African economy and reduce endemic inequality.
The list of political parties which joined the government of national unity ranks includes the GOOD party led by Patricia de Lille who was allocated the tourism department, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) led by Mzwanele Nyhontso who was allocated the department of land reform and rural development; Freedom Front Plus led by Dr Pieter Groenewald who was appointed Minister of Correctional Services.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) led by Bantubonke Holomisa also joined the arrangement and its leader was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans while Al Jama-ah’s president Ganief Hendricks was appointed Deputy Minister of Social Development. Leader of Rise Mzansi is currently chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
The Democratic Alliance has six Cabinet ministers in the seventh administration with DA leader John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture; Siviwe Gwarube as Minister of Basic Education; Dean Macpherson as Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure; Dr Leon Schreiber as Minister of Home Affairs; Dr Dion George as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and Solly Malatsi as Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies.
IOL