PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and her departmental heads have been at pains to point out that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) form the nucleus of the National Development Plan and play a vital developmental role in our country’s economy.
In fact, the opposite is true, with a number of SOEs, such as South African Airways and Eskom, serving as fiscal black holes and constraints to economic growth.
The continued mismanagement of SOEs demonstrates the need to accelerate the process of their partial privatisation.
Furthermore, the fact remains that experts in the respective industries, and not political appointments, should be heading these entities to ensure their efficient management and financial viability.
For months, we have been told by Ms Brown to thank Eskom for keeping the lights on, and to acknowledge the "good" work being done by Eskom management.
Let us no longer beat around the bush — it is ludicrous that we should be thankful to an SOE for simply fulfilling its mandate.
The latest utterances by Eskom CEO Brian Molefe following the decision by the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) not to grant it a 16.6% tariff increase were nothing more than schoolyard bullying tactics.
They only go to prove that when an SOE is allowed to maintain a monopoly stranglehold over the lifeblood of a country’s economy, the nation’s people suffer and the poor become poorer.
Instead of threatening the country with load shedding as a result of Nersa not capitulating to its demands, Mr Molefe should pay more attention to tackling the mismanagement that resulted in the need for an exorbitant increase.
He should rather focus on expediting the completion of Medupi and Kusile and cutting expenditure on diesel-fuelled generators.
Mr Molefe need only look in the mirror to see who is really to blame for the troubles at Eskom.
Natasha Mazzone MP
DA shadow minister of public enterprises
Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown. Picture: TREVOR SAMSON
PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown and her departmental heads have been at pains to point out that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) form the nucleus of the National Development Plan and play a vital developmental role in our country’s economy.
In fact, the opposite is true, with a number of SOEs, such as South African Airways and Eskom, serving as fiscal black holes and constraints to economic growth.
The continued mismanagement of SOEs demonstrates the need to accelerate the process of their partial privatisation.
Furthermore, the fact remains that experts in the respective industries, and not political appointments, should be heading these entities to ensure their efficient management and financial viability.
For months, we have been told by Ms Brown to thank Eskom for keeping the lights on, and to acknowledge the "good" work being done by Eskom management.
Let us no longer beat around the bush — it is ludicrous that we should be thankful to an SOE for simply fulfilling its mandate.
The latest utterances by Eskom CEO Brian Molefe following the decision by the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) not to grant it a 16.6% tariff increase were nothing more than schoolyard bullying tactics.
They only go to prove that when an SOE is allowed to maintain a monopoly stranglehold over the lifeblood of a country’s economy, the nation’s people suffer and the poor become poorer.
Instead of threatening the country with load shedding as a result of Nersa not capitulating to its demands, Mr Molefe should pay more attention to tackling the mismanagement that resulted in the need for an exorbitant increase.
He should rather focus on expediting the completion of Medupi and Kusile and cutting expenditure on diesel-fuelled generators.
Mr Molefe need only look in the mirror to see who is really to blame for the troubles at Eskom.
Natasha Mazzone MP
DA shadow minister of public enterprises
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