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CEO UPDATE
TRANSPARENCY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE ARE NOT GRANDSTANDING
We are witnessing encouraging developments as we approach two months since President Ramaphosa announced the new Government of National Unity (GNU). However, there is a cautionary note: the ANC may resist being outshone, potentially causing tension within the GNU.
With various political parties now leading certain ministerial positions and parliamentary portfolios, we see an unprecedented level of scrutiny and control from within. This marks a significant shift from the days when the ANC, with its entrenched political dominance, dictated the actions of administrative leaders.
Statements from leaders such as the DA’s Minister Dean Macpherson of Public Works and Infrastructure, who is committed to stopping waste and promoting transparency, inspire us. Other ministers are making similar commitments, like the DA’s Siviwe Gwarube (Department of Basic Education), the IFP’s Velenkosini Hlabisa in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (GoGTA) and the PA’s Gayton McKenzie (Sports, Arts and Culture). This fills us with hope, despite some trepidation when it comes to McKenzie’s promises (given his party’s record in certain municipalities.)
Even though the ANC’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has been accusing the party’s power-sharing partners of grandstanding, their actions are anything but that. Transparency and exposing wrongdoing are essential tools in combating corruption and maladministration, enabled by political will and moral courage. The involvement of new political players – who previously criticized from the sidelines – is leading to corrections of past misdeeds and systemic failures.
Agility in Civil Activism
Civil society organisations (CSOs) have long yearned for the type of courageous actions we are now witnessing. Previously, leaders within a dominant ruling party structure were unable or unwilling to expose internal corruption. This is now changing within departments, as new non-ANC leadership or shared oversight begin to play more meaningful roles.
OUTA, with its authentic and agile approach to activism, is seizing this opportunity to engage with authorities, seeking to share years of evidence and experiences of maladministration and corruption. For too long now, our compelling evidence and reports have often been ignored by those in power. The new GNU, however, presents a more open environment for CSOs to operate, fostering a healthier relationship between government and society, which benefits democracy and service delivery.
We sincerely hope this openness will extend to other areas where the ANC retains control, and where inefficiencies and waste are rampant. OUTA has observed many internal empires within government departments that need dismantling.
Working on Multiple Fronts
The GNU’s influence is also creating opportunities at provincial and municipal levels. The dire situation in Johannesburg, a critical economic hub, is one such area. OUTA is actively addressing this through initiatives like JoburgCAN and WaterCAN.
OUTA’s Community Action Network (CAN) is also aiding local community organisations elsewhere in the country in pressuring for change.
President Ramaphosa’s repeated concerns about municipal collapse and the need for professional upliftment in local government are well-known. However, we need decisive political will to tackle these issues. We trust that CoGTA Minister Hlabisa will work with Treasury, the Presidency, the Auditor General’s office, and other institutions to enforce necessary corrective actions.
In the coming month, OUTA’s WaterCAN team is preparing for September’s water quality testing week, a significant event in the international water awareness calendar, focusing on issues of scarcity, quality, and management.
In conclusion: the shift toward better governance is a positive development. Success will depend on the ability of the new GNU members to steer the government effectively, ensuring that pressure on the ANC does not create damaging rifts. This is a case where 'less is more,' and ‘time will tell’ if the new political dynamics can bring lasting change.
However, our work is far from done. We will continue to do our work without fear or favour and in so doing, we trust that our supporters will be proud of their role and part played in this journey.
Yours sincerely
Wayne Duvenage