ONE of the biggest challenges facing the ANC-led government is how to deal with the public's competing needs.
The government finds itself faced with the challenge of having to redress centuries of apartheid misrule - wherein the needs of the country's majority were ignored.
Instead of representing the majority of South Africans, the then apartheid government adopted race-based policies that ensured the interests of the white minority were served to the exclusion of their black compatriots.
The advent of democracy has reversed this situation and in the process put a huge responsibility on the democratically elected government.
Part of that responsibility entails running an efficient people-centred administration. This, unfortunately, has to happen in a situation where the government faces several constraints. These include the fact that SA, like the rest of the world, currently faces adverse economic conditions. This will invariably impact on the kind of budget the government has to execute its mandate.
Most importantly, what this situation calls for is prudence and efficiency in the public service. But experience has shown that there is rampant inefficiency and malfeasance within the public service.
Several public reports have revealed how - instead of serving the public - some public servants see their employment within government as a way to self-enrichment. The reports have also revealed how incompetence and sloth have undermined attempts by government to deliver on its mandate.
Today we publish findings by auditor-general Terence Nombembe that municipalities in Mpumalanga have wastedR1-billion of taxpayers' money through poor financial management. Nombembe reveals that 15 of the municipalities engaged the services of financial consultants to assist them prepare their financial statements.
The report comes on the heels of another presented in Parliament last Thursday, which revealed that failure to follow proper procedures and general delays in building hospitals and clinics over the past seven years has cost taxpayers R313-million.
These are costly inefficiencies that both the government and the taxpayer cannot afford. Excuses about a lack of skills in the public sector cannot wash anymore. The government must crack the whip and ensure that those charged with the responsibility of running an efficient administration do so.
The public expect this government to be better than its apartheid predecessor. It must get rid of those responsible for these costly wastages.
Govt must crack whip
ONE of the biggest challenges facing the ANC-led government is how to deal with the public's competing needs.
The government finds itself faced with the challenge of having to redress centuries of apartheid misrule - wherein the needs of the country's majority were ignored.
Instead of representing the majority of South Africans, the then apartheid government adopted race-based policies that ensured the interests of the white minority were served to the exclusion of their black compatriots.
The advent of democracy has reversed this situation and in the process put a huge responsibility on the democratically elected government.
Part of that responsibility entails running an efficient people-centred administration. This, unfortunately, has to happen in a situation where the government faces several constraints. These include the fact that SA, like the rest of the world, currently faces adverse economic conditions. This will invariably impact on the kind of budget the government has to execute its mandate.
Most importantly, what this situation calls for is prudence and efficiency in the public service. But experience has shown that there is rampant inefficiency and malfeasance within the public service.
Several public reports have revealed how - instead of serving the public - some public servants see their employment within government as a way to self-enrichment. The reports have also revealed how incompetence and sloth have undermined attempts by government to deliver on its mandate.
Today we publish findings by auditor-general Terence Nombembe that municipalities in Mpumalanga have wastedR1-billion of taxpayers' money through poor financial management. Nombembe reveals that 15 of the municipalities engaged the services of financial consultants to assist them prepare their financial statements.
The report comes on the heels of another presented in Parliament last Thursday, which revealed that failure to follow proper procedures and general delays in building hospitals and clinics over the past seven years has cost taxpayers R313-million.
These are costly inefficiencies that both the government and the taxpayer cannot afford. Excuses about a lack of skills in the public sector cannot wash anymore. The government must crack the whip and ensure that those charged with the responsibility of running an efficient administration do so.
The public expect this government to be better than its apartheid predecessor. It must get rid of those responsible for these costly wastages.
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