Johannesburg - Business and the
government need to pull in the same direction in view of global
economic risks, ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa said on
Wednesday.
"We simply do not have the luxury
to emphasise our differences, which there will always be, to the
detriment of our many agreements," Phosa said in a speech
prepared for delivery at the FNB business club breakfast in
Johannesburg.
"In choosing our future, whether
those choices are for policy options or leaders, we cannot even
consider choosing against certain alternatives or individuals."
He said the country needed to get rid
of the negative mindset of "we cure ills with more of the same".
"We must choose for change, for
good policies, and for people who will selflessly impact against
poverty and unemployment.
"We must choose for change and not
waste time in formulating a discourse on what and whom we are
against."
Phosa outlined steps he thought would
improve service delivery. He said a small and competent team should
be given powers to investigate suspicious tenders, and that tender
processes at all levels of government had to be open to ongoing
scrutiny.
"The current institutions of
planning and monitoring and evaluation leaves a gap...(and) specific,
high priority projects are not accelerated at the speed required in
the context of current unemployment and poverty.
"I suggest that... government
engages with the business sector with a view towards them releasing a
team of current and former executives to formulate advice to
government on how to accelerate delivery."
The government should not hesitate to
act when it found institutions were not performing.
"The current system should be
reviewed on whether cadre deployment is more suited to policy or
executive level. It might be that we find that deployment on a policy
level will be much more productive in the service delivery context
than on an executive level."
It was crucial to align the policy of
state-owned organisations with ANC policy.
"The logical conclusion,
therefore, is that deployed ANC members are better suited to sit on
the boards of organisations to effect this critical policy alignment.
"We need the very best skills
available for leaders to serve as executives in those entities and
enterprises that the state owns."
Phosa said it was time to accept public
responsibility for mistakes.
Leaders needed to accept the principles
needed to create space for others to do a better job.
"If we all put our shoulders to
the wheel, we can make a difference through hard work, partnerships
and pride in creating a better life for all," he said.
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