Mr President, it’s time to deal with this non-performing minister
21 October 2022
Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP.
It is time for President Ramaphosa to step in and deal with non-performing Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.
A prime example of her Department’s failings, is the latest egregious behaviour of the SA Post Office (SAPO) management, as revealed to the Democratic Alliance. Showing that the South African Post Office will no longer be able to pay its employees voluntary severance packages, the inevitable outcome for an entity that is utterly bankrupt.
An employee is offered a voluntary severance package as a means of motivating them to resign or retire, which is usually done as a company tries to reduce its workforce and its payroll costs.
It is stated in the letter revealed to the DA, that the Post Office simply doesn’t have the money to continue with this severance package offer.
This isn’t surprising, considering the fact that the Post Offices’ annual report shows that the State Owned Entity (SOE) currently sits with R133-million in Fruitless Wasteful and Irregular expenditure. All adding up to a R2.2-billion net loss. Naturally not a single soul has been held responsible.
On her watch, the 12 entities within the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies have racked up an eye-watering R5.617-billion in losses. Further, two of them have simply failed to produce their annual reports.
We, therefore, call on the Minister to do the right thing and resign, as she has shown no interest or accountability, while she additionally seems incapable of turning things around within her department.
To help her along towards the door, the DA has additionally written to President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking him to take a break from contemplating his Phala Phala and rethink his decision in appointing the bumbling absentee Minister Ntshavheni.
Issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard, DA Shadow Minister of Communications, 21 October 2022
