By Alec Hogg
In the real world, spendthrifts are objects of ridicule. Our languages are peppered with idioms about perils of overspending. For hundreds of years, authors have warned of its danger. Indeed, until the mid-19th century, in civilised countries spending more than you earned landed you in debtors prison – or worse.
Yet in South African politics, such profilagacy has been celebrated. Perhaps it is because the interests of those who pay the bills are not aligned with those who elevate Big Spenders into positions of power. So taxpayers shug their collective shoulders at Nkandla, Medupi, Kusile, SOE bailouts and expanding public wage bills.
___STEADY_PAYWALL___Perhaps, at last, we’re seeing light on this gloomy horison. The young democracy is starting to learn some very hard lessons. Helped by SA’s Treasury running out of money. Then watching Adv Paul Hoffman on BizNewsTV unpacking the “mendacious and incompetent” Public Protector saga, also suggests a penny has dropped.
Paul’s ‘explainer’ on Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s appointment linked it to Jacob Zuma’s determination to prevent another Thuli Madonsela getting the powerful post. The ANC’s Boss got his MP minions to tow the line. No matter that his deployed cadre cost taxpayers R200m in legal losses and costs alone over the next 1700 days. If you thought education was expensive, try ignorance. Especially among elected officials.
One part of all this which bears investigation, though, is how after years of unstinting support for its deployed cadre, every ANC MP this week voted to impeach her in Parliament’s 318 to 43 vote. Whatever the chattering classes believe, Cyril Ramaphosa clearly has an iron grip on his party. For the moment anyway.
Sterkte
Alec
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