It
was last year that Tidemarks became aware of the existence of the National
School of government responsible for “learning and development programmes in a
uniform public service with the objective of developing a professional,
responsive and capable public sector, driven by the imperative of a
developmental state”. What ever this might mean and even if the minister of
sports, Nathi Mthethwa is not an alumnus he is surely a shoo-in for that School’s
award for the top political policy in 2019 with his program to nationalise
sport and recreation. This asinine idea ticks all the boxes of excruciatingly
stupid government interference. It will assuredly cost far more than anyone
estimates. It gladdens the heart of old Marxists who still firmly believe that
if you annoy the white people enough they will all leave the country and forget
to close their bank accounts It inserts layers of bureaucracy between every
participant, spectator, sponsor to the certain detriment of everyone. It makes
every sporting professional a state employee (earning the same amount?) It will
finally enable the abolition of the Springbok emblem. And wont that make the
country pleased? Err. NO!
Reportedly
the draft regulation which has been published, drones on about the powers of a
minister to make everything better. Without actually defining “better”. Do we
really need Nathi and his spooks poking about in the bar at the bowling club
checking that the honours boards give equal space to the permanently offended?
Since there is really not much kudos to be gained by hanging about for a photo
op at the medal ceremony of the eastern Free State Winter Jukskei tournament,
his motivation must be money. But the driver behind advertising and
sponsporship deals are tax benefits. And so it’s rather hard to picture the
system where a bank (for example) pays the costs of a team owned by the state.
The
questions roll on and on
In
the national budget, Sports is lumped together with the equally small Arts and
Culture department. The budgeted employment cost for these civil servants this
fiscal year is R7.6bn. This includes an amount of R3.5bn for goods and services
(think: drink, food, feather beds and flights). For this amount the nation
sleeps easily knowing that someone from the ministry is always there to ensure that
we sing from the same page and play the right games with the correct teams. In striking contrast, the amount available for
distributing to and supporting their clients (the citizens actually doing
stuff) is exactly half of what the bureaucrats are costing. Already the signs
are clear about who does best in this deal. And it isn’t the meisie from
Mamelodi eager to pit herself against the rest of the world.
It's alarming how
our lives and language so swiftly and easily absorb words and concepts that were
utterly unthinkable. Suddenly we're are getting used to the idea of an
electricity distribution “war room” where wise men make informed and capable
decisions about who should return to the stone age and for how long. Its worth
reminding everyone that Eskom is managed by people most of whom who don’t know
the difference between WhatsApp and Watt Amps. Remember the Chairman explaining
how a conveyor belt worked? And yet there’s a tired resignation. Eskom are doing
their best in trying circumstances. It's not their fault that a conveyor belt
has parted, coal does get wet when it rains, the contractors have obviously left
us with faulty systems and how were we to know? We have a new boss now. He’ll
fix it. Just as soon as he arranges his departure package. He has a meeting
with Mr Molefe.
Its comforting to
watch the school leaving high achievers being paraded past the press for a
ministerial photo op. Those young folks know exactly the value and meaning of
an improbable 9 distinctions but were happy and capable to game the system to
cut a few corners. The politicos however were salivating with
self-congratulation and ensured that no dared to ask what next? Like: Do we have a quota system for the high
demand university places or does ability trump race?
James
Greener
Friday
10th January 2020
