The ANC is no longer talking about creating jobs but shedding them. During his Budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the government intends to cut jobs in the public service, adding to the high unemployment rate.
The government officials employ their incompetent cronies, family members and comrades to top positions and give them high salaries.
Now the same government is saying the public service is bloated. The incompetent friends they have hired will not be affected by the imminent job cuts. How does this thing work? I find it interesting that the government is pushing for job cuts yet the cabinet is obese. There are ministers and deputy ministers who are just cheque collectors - and are doing absolutely nothing.
Yet their jobs are not under threat. Indeed, some are more equal than others. If the ANC is serious about trimming the public service to save money, let it start with cabinet ministers and their deputies. There are also old parliamentarians who go to parliament just to sleep. Is it not sleeping on the job an offence?
They are not making any meaningful contributions. During the budget speech, the minister of finance proudly increased VAT by 1% over two years. This after Godongwana wanted to increase VAT by 2% and the GNU partners, led by DA, resisted. They saved us from a 2% hike in VAT. There is less number of people working - and more unemployed. The majority of those employed earn a low income. Yet the government in its wisdom saw the need to increase VAT. It is simply saying let the poor drown in the pool of poverty.
No doubt this government won't take us to the Promised Land. Lastly, our democratic government is not taking this country forward. It is also clearly bankrupt with ideas on how to grow the economy and create jobs. Instead, it is squeezing money from the few that are employed. What did we do to deserve this? Senzeni na!
Thabile Mange I Johannesburg