By Alec Hogg
When one of last sane politicians succumbs to the power virus, what else but hold your head in your hands? On Wednesday, Cyril Ramaphosa, for many the Nurse Ratched in Zuma’s Cuckoo’s Nest, claimed South Africa is on track to “reach and exceed” its target of six million new jobs by 2019.
Perhaps that Good News filter to the Union Buildings is actually a tourniquet. For years now this country has been leaking jobs, not making them. Six million new ones in four years works out to 125 000 a month. So, in each of the next 48 months as many new ones to be created as currently employed in SA’s Big Four banks. Combined.
How will Ramaphosa and his fellows in the Zuma Administration “create” these jobs? Easy, he continued. Extend the public works programme. Seriously? By funding thousands of that single food garden Cyril was so impressed by at Orange Farm? Perhaps by diverting money the ANC intends spending on the $100bn Russian-built nuclear fleet?
A couple days after Ramaphosa’s fantasy was reported as fact, Lonmin announced the end of an other 6 000 jobs at the business. Real ones, Cyril. At one of the companies on whose board you served before jumping back on the gravy train. Perhaps you’ll get the irony. Eish. The virus is catching.
From Biznews community member Chris Whelan