Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Lukef
Published on 2024-03-08 19:52:40
Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan has announced his retirement after the 29 May 2024 general election to pave the way for the new administration. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) confirmed that Gordhan intends to retire from active politics at the end of the current administration following the elections. His retirement marks the end of a long and distinguished career in the public service.
Gordhan has held several critical leadership roles in government over the past 30 years since the advent of democracy in South Africa. He served as the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2014, during which time the government focused on stabilizing the economy, managing fiscal policy, and promoting accountability in public finances. He was a central figure in investigations during the Zondo Commission on State Capture, which looked into corruption and maladministration during the presidency of Jacob Zuma.
Throughout his career, Gordhan has been a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility, ethical governance, and the rule of law. He has consistently spoken out against corruption and inefficiency in government operations, most recently calling for urgent intervention at troubled state-owned entity Transnet. Gordhan has also served as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and briefly as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
The announcement of Gordhan’s retirement is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition for the minister and the department at the end of the administration. The department expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their collaboration and contribution to reforming and rebuilding the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under Gordhan’s leadership.
However, not everyone has praised Gordhan’s tenure as Minister of Public Enterprises. The Democratic Alliance spokesperson on public enterprises, Mimmy Gondwe, criticized Gordhan for squandering public goodwill and failing to address the challenges faced by SOEs. Gondwe accused Gordhan of allowing corruption to persist at institutions like Eskom and failing to effectively deal with the country’s energy crisis, resulting in economic downturn and job losses.
Gondwe also raised concerns about transparency and accountability in Gordhan’s management of SOEs, citing issues with disclosing important documents and the chronic dependence of SOEs on taxpayer-funded bailouts. Despite significant financial support provided to SOEs during Gordhan’s tenure, the returns for taxpayers have been minimal.
In conclusion, Pravin Gordhan’s announcement of retirement marks the end of an era in South African politics. His legacy includes both commendable achievements in leadership and governance, as well as criticism for perceived shortcomings in addressing challenges within the public enterprises sector. As the country looks towards the future, the transition to a new administration will be a critical time for the continued reform and improvement of state-owned enterprises.
Read the original article on Mail & Guardian
