In today’s opinions, political commentator Ralph Mathekga writes the government is creating a long-term headache for itself by creating parallel structures to manage the dispersal of relief funds in KwaZulu-Natal.
The government has enlisted the Solidarity Fund to administer the funds meant for victims and rebuilding efforts brought on by excessive flooding and heavy rainfall in KZN but while this solves the short-term problem of corruption within the public sphere it will have long term consequences contends Mathekga.
He writes: “This is fine when one considers it as a short-term solution to corruption – but, as a long-term goal of rebuilding confidence in the public service, this strategy does not work.”
Mathekga argues that when public service is excluded from executing public policy it drifts further away from its intended mandate and sets up a “long-term disaster.”
Tom Eaton writes about the basic education departments’ election and voter knowledge campaign aimed at the youth ahead of tomorrow’s Freedom Day.
Eaton writes that if South African youth feel disenfranchised and a certain apathy towards voting it is not because of a “passive-aggressive demonstration of taking the right to vote for granted” as has been stated by the department in its campaign. But rather because the youth have simply looked around them at how politicians behave and how our governmental institutions have been run.
Faizel Patel writes that despite Elon Musk being born in Pretoria, he does not really care about his fellow South Africans and is more interested in playing with social media.
Patel bemoaned Musk’s enormous $273 billion fortune and how the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, and soon Twitter owner spends his billions. Patel argues that despite all that money, the world’s wealthiest individual, couldn’t be bothered to raise funds for flood relief in South Africa unlike his fellow countrywoman Charlize Theron who raised funds through her charitable organisation.
Here’s a round-up of opinions, editorials, and in-depth articles we’re reading:
The current political system and parties have failed us — we must change from the bottom up – Mbali Ntuli, Daily Maverick
Freedom Day 2022 — What freedom when life is precarious and poverty all-pervasive? – Amanda Gouws, Daily Maverick
Government must rise to the challenge of delivering services to citizens – it’s possible – Sasha Planting
Misogyny lies behind the bullying of Busisiwe Mavuso – Justice Malala, Financial Mail (for subscribers)
The ANC’s point-scoring on Eskom is not fooling anybody – Carol Paton, Fin24 (for subscribers)
Ad hoc committee on KZN floods must lose ANC’s hear no evil, see no evil outlook – Jan Gerber, News24 (for subscribers)
Rebuilding Durban will require the state and society – Editorial, New Frame
