WESTERN CAPE SHOWS THE WAY
Last year the Western Cape Provincial Legislature passed the Business Interests of Employees Bill. It prohibits all provincial government employees and their families from owning more than 5% of shares in an entity that does business with the provincial government.
It's good legislation to fight corruption that should be replicated in all provincial legislatures. But when the Democratic Alliance proposed it in Gauteng, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane dismissed it as "a small thing in a small corner of the country".
This contemptuous dismissal ignores the very real problem of civil servants making money out of government contracts. An Auditor General's report found that R26 million was awarded from 2005 to 2007 to businesses in which Gauteng government employees had interests.
Moreover, most did not have permission to conduct outside business, or did not declare their interests. Gauteng needs to tighten up here, so rejection of a remedial measure is a great pity.
Another area where legislation is needed is school accountability. Performance contracts with principals are a good idea, as authorised in the Western Cape Provincial School Education Amendment Bill. But this will probably be rejected in Gauteng because of opposition by teachers' union SADTU.
Despite limited powers compared to countries with real federalism, Western Cape pushes the limits for better governance. It also leads the way in good financial management. It was the only province last year that spent virtually all the infrastructure grants from national treasury.
Ninety-nine percent of the total provincial budget was spent, with unspent funds reduced from R1.1 billion when the DA took power to R339 million. Payments to suppliers exceeding 30 days decreased by 72%, which is important as late payments can cripple businesses. By contrast, 75% of companies in Gauteng do not get paid within 30 days.
This is why I often get desperate calls from unpaid companies that supply hospitals.
Gauteng underspent by R1.5 billion in total last year, and R358 million was cut from its infrastructure grants because Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan did not think it would be spent.
Whereas hospitals in the Western Cape are built on time and within budget, similar projects in Gauteng cost twice the original budget and open way later than planned.
The difference is because the DA appoints competent people and fights corruption ruthlessly. Mokonyane has said that the reshuffle of her executive council last year "had nothing to do with underperformance, it was a political determination".
It's a blunt admission that ANC provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile calls the shots in promoting his cronies over better qualified people. And high-level officials implicated in corruption usually walk away scot free.
To my mind, another form of corruption is spending public money on unnecessary luxuries. Yet Mokonyane was not ashamed to spent R2.1 million refurbishing the bedroom and kitchen of her official residence.
And there is precious little cost-saving either on things like travel costs. Contrast this with Western Cape provincial ministers who did not upgrade their cars. They even fly economy class.
So who has a better claim to pursuing policies that most assist the poor? It surely cannot be fat-cat ANC politicians who spend inefficiently and allow corruption free rein. The Western Cape truly sets the example for the rest of the country.
Jack Bloom MPL, is DA Leader in the Gauteng Legislature. This article first appeared in The Citizen.
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
