Image from: Fotosearch.com
1. An article by Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu Secretary General, prompted the choice of title:
Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi pulled no punches when he launched a scathing attack against the country's “corrupt political elite” on Thursday, saying they are turning the country into a “full-blown predator state”.
Vavi singled out the “scandalous” ArcelorMittal transaction in which family members and friends of President Jacob Zuma controversially received millions or Rands worth of shares in the valuable Sishen mine.
“We're headed for a predator state where a powerful, corrupt and demagogic elite of political hyenas are increasingly using the state to get rich,” said Vavi. Just like the “hyena and her daughters” eat first in nature, the “chief of state's family eats first” in this predator state.
“We have to intervene now to prevent South Africa from becoming a state where corruption is the norm and no business can be done with government without first paying a corrupt gatekeeper,” Vavi said at a media conference at Cosatu House in Johannesburg.
Workers are angry
Ministers who drive in luxury German cars and whose children attend private schools, should best remain silent. “That green book (ministerial handbook) which gives ministers the right to stay in the Mount Nelson hotel – the workers know about this and they are angry.”
Can't support the corrupt
While Cosatu is not in favour of self regulation in the printed press, “we can't lend blind support to something which will give the corrupt a place to hide”, said Dlamini.
Cosatu also decided against supporting all ANC candidates without question in next year's election. “We refuse to hold campaigns for a thief or incapable, lazy people who only make themselves available for their own benefit,” said Vavi.
Conclusion:
• The article in general,
Vavi’s attack on corrupt official and his reference to South Africa as a “predator
state”, suggest a scavenging culture in Government.
• The following statement,
taken from the article, prompted the choice of study title in the first place:
“We're headed for a predator state where powerful, corrupt and demagogic elite
of political hyenas are increasingly using the state to get rich. Just like the
‘hyena and her daughters’ eat first in nature. The chief of the state's family ‘eats
first’ in this predator state.
2. Another
Perception Prompting the Choice of Title
Government
deals with millions, billions and milliards of Rands entrusted to them.
The processes and efforts to ensure good corporate governance must be commensurate
and appropriate to the actual value of the money.
The study shows an unbalance between the monetary value of budgets and Government’s efforts and readiness to protect money as a reliable custodian should do.
This apparent incongruence turns large sums of money into an everyday commodity or “scavenge” item, up for grabs.
Figure 1: Process Incongruence
Image from: FotoSearch.com
The Effect:
Corrupt Government officials are perceived to “descent” upon all ill-protected money like scavengers. Funds, irrespective of whether earmarked for pension for the elderly, providing desperately needed medical care, fighting HIV/AIDS, rendering basic services or building houses for the homeless, are clutched away.
Millions of Rands are “scavenged” from those who really need it.
“Scavengers” are inherently self-centred, feeding their own selfish needs, with little or no compassion to serve the country and its people. Scavenging is “infectious”. It spreads and flourishes in an environment where management systems and processes are weak, inadequate and inefficient.
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