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Last week Cabinet announced a number of appointments to boards of state entities.
New appointments were made to among others, state-owned enterprises such as the Land Bank, Eskom and Transnet.
The appointments came in the wake of governance controversies at some state-owned enterprises.
Following the qualification scandals at SAA and the SABC as well as the controversy of a questionable executive at PetroSA, we expected cabinet to be vigilant.
We expected appointments after a thorough verification of qualifications and experience.
Instead, the latest cabinet statements with names of the appointees have a disclaimer: “Subject to the verification of qualifications and the relevant clearance”
Why didn’t the cabinet insist on verification before announcement? Would it be happy if some of those named are later on exposed to have claimed qualifications they don’t have?
Why does the government put itself in an untenable situation of having to navigate out of avoidable embarrassment?
These questions do not suggest the appointees are questionable. But it would serve the appointees, the government and the public well if there are assurances that cabinet announces appointments of only those whose qualifications have been thoroughly checked.
Much has been said about the lie told by SABC Chairwomen, Ellen Tshabalala, who finally resigned, but will not be expected to “pay back the money” she fraudulently earned by being the Chairperson under false pretences – or her lack thereof. What has not been emphasized is that she did not appoint herself.
Parliament recommended her appointment after sloppy process which didn’t include verification of qualifications.
Now parliament is rescinding on appointment it should not have caused in the first place.
Zuma is “considering” parliament’s recommendations that Tshabalala be fired, which she now voluntarily resigned.
Still cabinet is not learning.
