Lack of Transformation at Eskom: Who Do We Fire First?

The main reason the Jake White is no longer coaching the Boks is because he didn't - apparently - make transformation enough of a priority. By the same token, heads need to roll for lack of transformation - infrastructural - at Eskom. This isn't about a feel good factor in the national interest, it's about the actual functionality of the country as a whole. Ssssh...what do you mean the government doesn't care about that? Ssssh...what do you mean This Is Africa?

The front page of the Sunday Times covered exactly this issue. What is happening in South Africa mirrors what is happening in the USA. People get swept up in endless debates about what was said and what was done. We get bogged down in the details, making our case, but never move on to the next step.

In the case of the war on iraq, Americans and international commentators quarreled and chattered endlessly about contradictions and inconsistencies. No one went: okay so that is a given. We are being bullshitted. This being the case, how do we put bums in seats that reflect waht we (the people and voters) want.

In our democracy too we too quyickly wring our hands and say; ag, that's government, you can't trust them, and then continue on with our lives." That's an abdication of responsibility. We vote for our leraders, we have the power to vote them in, and vote them out. What happens, as we all know, is after voting them in, they run amuck, because we don't really hold them accountable in a meaningful way. The media holds them accountable. But ordinary citizens don't seem to do more than read the papers, moan and groan, and then continue. We need to identify a system for accountability. Who do we address our letters to? How do we arrange town hall meetings? What is the process for impeachment, where does it start? How do we smack politicians on their wrists? How can we fast-track the firing of non-performers, liars and thiefs?

Our failure to act is essentially an endorsement, and makes us complicit in the corruption, and our national road to ruin.