New Faces, Renewed Potential

Congratulations to the men and women who have been appointed by President Jacob Zuma into his second term Cabinet.

It takes a degree of decisiveness and courage to select your team from among your equals and comrades, overlooking some and dropping others. But that is, according to our Constitution, is the prerogative of the head of state. Cabinet ministers serve at the pleasure of the President. Now that President Zuma has selected his team, they must get on with the business of making the lives of South Africans better.

At this early stage, it would be presumptuous to pronounce on the ability of Zuma's Cabinet to perform in their assigned portfolios, particularly those who assume new roles. We shall watch, pray and support them where we can. I say "support" being fully cognizant of the contradictions sometimes inherent in collaborative efforts between religious leadership and the state.

While I subscribe to the collaborative framework between the state and religious leaders - sometimes an end is important and the likelihood of achieving it is greater if we act together than alone - I am equally aware of co-option which is the negative face of collaboration. Therefore, where we think we must ask difficult questions of the state and speak truth to power, we shall do so.

Some of the changes Zuma has brought into his reconfigured Cabinet inspire hope. The creation of a small business development ministry, properly handled, can create the impetus our economy needs to create jobs. Studies the world over show that small businesses play a critical role in the economy.

In the US, it is said that about half of its gross domestic product is generated by small businesses and were these to secede and form their own economy, it would be the third largest economy in the world.

One hopes that the Small Business Development Ministry will hit the ground running and not be reduced into another bureaucracy that will have to fight turf wars with already existing ministries in the economic cluster. Small businesses require funding and active support-not more red tape.

Also encouraging is the creation of a focused Ministry of Women following the incorporation of Children and People with Disabilities into Social Development.

After the diminished representation of women in the positions of Provincial Premiers, some of us felt the ruling party has dropped the ball on this subject. I do hope that this new ministry will advance the cause of women with singleness of purpose nit only in the area of politics and/public office but in all spheres of life.

The change in some of the incumbents who were in the security cluster should also be welcomed. There was a disturbing tendency showing up in this cluster. It is a tendency that saw policemen shoot the miners in Marikana, Andries Tatane and protesters in service delivery protests. The change of guard will hopefully bring about a new doctrine in policing and law enforcement - one that is informed by human rights.

As the new Cabinet starts to execute the renewed mandate it got from South Africans in the recent elections, the delivery of services to the people must be its priority. Zuma has promised that he will remove those who are lazy and incompetent. I guess he can only do so to those who report to him-that is the Ministers. But there is a whole layer below the Ministers that must also be read the riot act. It is called the public service.

Ministers do not administer social grants, connect water and electricity, deliver textbooks, receive patients at our public health facilities or perform any direct service delivery functions. They set policy and monitor its implementation. They must make sure that bureaucrats they have appointed do their work. For us as citizens, the buck stops with our political representatives. We did not vote for public servants. Therefore, we expect our political principals to be firm with those who are tasked to deliver services.

As a resident of Gauteng, it would be remiss of me not to congratulate our new Premier, David Makhura. It is early days but what he has been saying in the few days since he assumed office inspires hope about the future of our province. His undertaking that there is no issue that is of concern to the people of Gauteng will be left out of his menu of matters to be addressed is reassuring. I wish all our newly appointed public representatives good health and wisdom. May they take their oath of office with humility and commitment and serve their country with pride.

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