Your cart is empty!
.
CEO UPDATE
There is no change of pace between one year to the next when it comes to tackling corruption in South Africa. There may have been a summer break for millions, but this is the season that corruption and the formation of dirty deals continue unabated.
Allow me to share my personal wish for South Africa and its people for 2024 with you. It is quite simple, and aligns with OUTA’s vision: more change for the good of all our citizens, as well as more transparency and accountability from government. And of course, we can all do with a better economy and more electricity!
Team OUTA set forth into 2024 at high pace, and we are very mindful of another bumpy (dare I say pothole ridden) year, this being an important election year for the nation. From what we have seen so far, those in power seem to be making desperate attempts to shoe in several irrational and questionable deals and policies, such as a very unclear Integrated Resource Plan (IRP-2023), an unworkable National Health Insurance (NHI), a new request for proposal (RFP) for a new 2500 MW Nuclear power plant, and a dubious deal between Russian-owned Gasprombank and PetroSA. None of these decisions appear to be planned with the best interests of South Africans at their core and come with a lot of opportunities for long term transactional contracts that will enrich a few facilitators in the mix.
OUTA will remain focused on a number of these matters and has already requested feedback from the National Energy Regulator (NERSA) about their record of decision to allow the DMRE to proceed with an RFP, when the suspensive conditions of an updated IRP have not been realized. Furthermore, we have written to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), Mr Gwede Mantashe, to request a two-month extension of the deadline for public comments, as this is a complex process that sets the road for SA’s electricity and energy future and is one that cannot be rushed with questionable input data provided by the authorities.
As far as Government’s new NHI plan is concerned, we are ready to throw our weight behind a campaign to drive a revision thereof. While we acknowledge the country needs a more professional and workable national integrated healthcare plan for all its citizens, there is sufficient input from many quarters and experts that the proposed model of the NHI will not suit the needs of the public and will be disastrous in its implementation. Research shows that as much as 40% of medical practitioners have indicated they will file their papers to emigrate, should the current NHI plan be pushed through. This will have a detrimental impact on the quality of life in South Africa.
Another example of a lack of care for the best interests of the people, and in this case, the poorest citizens in our country, is Government’s shocking handling of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Thanks to the vigilance and courage of patriotic whistleblowers and the focused work of OUTA’s project management team, we have exposed this sinister plot by people in authority, some of whom are closely connected to Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (Blade Nzimande). Accordingly, our work has seen the dismissal of Andile Nongogo, the NSFAS CEO - against whom we have laid criminal charges of corruption. In addition, earlier this month the chairperson of the NSFAS board, Ernest Khosa, took a leave of absence after OUTA’s exposé of voice recordings implicating him and the Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Blade Nzimande, in corruption.
There is also a looming student accommodation crisis for NSFAS students, which will have a significant impact on the start of the academic year and the country at large. Sadly, the power to intervene and avert another wave of potentially destructive student protests is not heeding our call.
To many who are fed up with how our country is being managed, the National and Provincial Elections (NPE-2024) can’t come soon enough. There is a big drive from many quarters to get as many South Africans to participate in our democracy and as such, we will be supporting campaigns to encourage voter registrations and attendance at the elections, expected to take place later in May this year.
In closing, it is becoming more evident that a stronger alignment between business and civil society if required, to tackle the many challenges that our country is facing. If you are a business owner or have influence at the company you work for, please consider becoming a financial supporter of OUTA’s work, as one dedicated supporter put it, it’s not a donation, it’s an investment in our future. OUTA is Section 18A registered which means all donations made to us are fully deductible through your annual income tax (which of course is applicable to individual taxpayers as well.)
Once again, thank you for your support.
Please share this newsletter with friends, family, and colleagues. OUTA needs your help in expanding our reach.
Please share this newsletter with friends, family, and colleagues. OUTA needs your help in expanding our reach.
Kind regards,
Wayne