UASA Media Release: 19 September 2023
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
UASA welcomes the National State Enterprises Bill published by Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan for public comment. The bill aims to move state-owned companies (SOCs) from operating as line departments and shield them from political interference by doing away with the Department of Public Enterprises.
Gordhan stated that the bill’s main objectives are to provide SOCs with the ability and means to raise capital from the markets, minimize political interference and separate the state’s regulatory functions from its ownership functions. UASA believes this is a step in the right direction, given the amount of taxpayer bailout money that government has pumped into SOCs with no tangible investment returns on record.
SOCs like Denel, Eskom, PRASA, TRANSNET, SAA, and the SABC have for years been riding out on taxpayers’ money for bailouts while rampant corruption and mismanagement continue. Early in February this year, the Zondo Commission into State Capture published shocking revelations on multiple leaders leaching off SOCs to enrich themselves with service delivery on the back burner.
Integrating best practices into the SOCs by ensuring that very competent, accountable, professionals run the entities and cutting any political interference on the operations will ensure sustainability and transparency in the long run. We cannot continue to have unprofessional individuals and looters running our entities without accountability or repercussions for their actions to the people of South Africa.
As the bill is now open for public comment, we hope this will be the beginning of the end of load shedding, a Denel that could not pay employees’ salaries for years, crumbling infrastructure, improved service delivery, end of corruption, and maladministration of funds and assets in state owned companies.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.