ZUMA - IT IS TIME TO MAN UP!

Political and economic turbulence reached alarming levels this past week, from the violence in Tshwane to Brexit's bombshell, and its presumed impact on an already faltering economy. The prospect of a silver lining in the ensuing turmoil appeared improbable, but for the Pretoria High Court's dismissal of Zuma and the NPA's application for leave to appeal reinstatement of 783 corruption charges against Zuma. Assuming Zuma wants, as he previously claimed , his day in court, now is the time for him to man up. He will not do so, and will continue to engage in obstructionist and frivolous tactics to defeat the ends of justice. In so doing, the NPA will participate in the charade pandering, as always, to Zuma and his benightedness. If, at the the end of a long and tortuous road Zuma is tried odds are good he will be acquitted. One merely has to recall the growing number of high profile cases the NPA has lost. In Zuma's case, however, it will be lost to more than NPA effortless incompetence, but for reasons more insidious in nature and scope.

PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS - A SOLUTION TO SA'S NATIONAL EDUCATION CRISIS

South Africa's basic educational system is in crisis mode, but it is not for want of funding. South Africa spends more on education, about 7% of GPD, than any other African country. If it was simply a question of money, the educational system would be riding the crest of a wave. The education system is dysfunctional for a multiplicity of reasons ranging from a bureaucratically bloated Basic Education Department, poorly trained and unmotivated teachers, incompetent school management to socio-economic factors. Year after year the system churns out an assembly line of dysfunctional children lacking in the 3 basics R's of education. The Education Department, unions and teachers disavow responsibility for their roles in creating and perpetuating decades of dysfunctional learners. Each contribute to the cycle of inter-generational poverty. Fanciful strategies has been introduced by government to turn education around. None of them, such as outcomes-based education have, or will succeed, because they are simply intended to serve as band aids to protect the special interests of bureaucrats and unions. One need look no further than Sadtu's refusal last year to administer annual assessment tests. One reason advanced by some for its refusal was that the tests would demonstrate an unacceptable level of substandard teaching. Not an outlandish conclusion as unions exist to protect its members rather than society as a whole. Millions of children are trapped in a system lacking in accountability, inferior training of teachers and bureaucrats. Those who have the financial means are increasingly sending their children to private schools. Fundamental change in a system that deprives millions of children to quality education is paramount. The solution is the establishment of charter schools which have dramatically improved the quality of education in under-performing urban and rural schools in North America and elsewhere. Charter schools are public schools operating under a charter between the school and government. Schools are independently run in their operations in return for greater accountability for performance. Although publicly funded a charter school is established by teachers, parents, or community groups. In return for public funding charter schools must demonstrate performance in the areas of academic achievement, financial management and organisational stability. To this end, charter schools have the ability to recruit and retain high quality teachers. Charter schools foster a partnership between parents, teachers and learners, creating an environment in which parents can be involved, teachers are encouraged to innovate, and learners are provided the structure needed to learn. Under-performing schools that have been transformed into public charter schools are decidedly closing the achievement gap. They are raising the bar of what is possible - and what should be expected in public education. In fact, those who sought academic refuge in private schools are returning in greater numbers to public charter schools. In doing so, they are contributing to an inclusive, positive and growing multi-racial environment for learners from all socio-economic backgrounds. Every child in South Africa deserves real opportunity to succeed in school, career and life. Public charter schools will provide the opportunity. Surely it deserves serious consideration by government in partnership with the education community. We owe it to the millions of South Africa's children.

A BROKEN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT BREEDS BUREAUOCRATIC DO-NOTHINGNESS & INDOLENCE

Commemorating June 16, 1976, as we do from year to year,  in recognition of the uprising and sacrifice of Soweto school learners is the least the country can do to honour the courage of those involved. 

What we fail to underscore was the deep-seated frustration experienced  by students forced to endure second-rate education.  Marching against Afrikaans as a medium of instruction was the last straw against an insidious educational system. 

Reflecting on the standard of present day basic and higher education, change in form has far outweighed change in substance.  Our educational system remains second-rate, and is not meeting the needs of our student body - they are no better off in comparison to 1976.  Literacy and numeracy are oxymorons in the educational context.  I know this from tutoring at a primary school.  

The decay in the standard of education is further compounded by Education Department bureaucrats disinterest in improving the system.  By way of example, I have sought cognitive and learning disorder assessment and intervention for young learners desperately in need of remedial education, but to no avail, either from school administrators, or the Minister herself.  There is a lesson to be learnt - one should not expect responsiveness from an environment that is a breeding ground for do-nothingness and indolence.  

South Africa's children do not deserve an educational system that is irreparably broken.  We owe it to them because "If not us, then who? If not now, then when?"

ANC TRUCKING FOR VOTES

As day breaks over South Africa, day in and day out, the poor are subjected to increasing misery, hopelessness and despair at the hands of the ANC.  Now it is alleged that senior ANC comrades issued a directive to withhold water to the poor in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region. After doing so, water tankers would be despatched to ostensibly demonstrate the ANC's sensitivity to delivery - all in the name of securing votes in the coming election.

As expected the ANC has denied manipulating the affected residents.  The denial falls on deaf ears as the ANC has lied for so long it is impossible to distinguish between the truth and a lie.

Those responsible should be publicly tarred and feathered instead of having to experience the ignominy of an ambassadorial appointment to a distant exotic location.

ARROGANCE AND CONTRIVANCE: GAMING THE SYSTEM

The NPA and President Zuma's application for leave to appeal the High Court's ruling that Zuma should face charges in a earlier dropped indictment was recently argued.  Judgment has been reserved.

There is every expectation leave to appeal will be refused inasmuch as the unanimous full court decision was legally sound in fact and law.  Why then did Zuma and the NPA seek leave to appeal?

From Zuma's perspective one can understand his decision -  avoidance at all costs of reinstatement of criminal charges for particularly serious crimes.

For the NPA the decision to seek leave to appeal follows a pattern uniformly employed by government and parastatals who engage in frivolous lawsuits with no expectation of success.  One merely has to recall the number of recent high profile cases government has lost.

Why then does government persist in engaging in ever-increasing frivolous and costly lawsuits?   Primarily arrogance and contrived legal advice -  advice that government lawyers dish up to simply satisfy their political bosses. The entire system from the NPA to the Office of the Chief Law Advisor is politicised and panders to politicians and their benightedness.

The politicisation problem has not gone unnoticed.  A study by the Public Service Commission has addressed it. Whether its findings will be acted upon remains to be seen.  Probably not, and certainly not from those in private practice .  The status quo is a bonanza for them.  Their laughter can be heard all the way to the bank!

"NOT THE SHARPEST KNIFE IN THE KNIFE-THING"

South Africa's  foreign minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has done it again - embarrassing the country.  She did so on al-Jazeera, and now by leveling unfounded complaints at the US for its recent terror alert.  Her actions are demonstrative of a degree of stupidity that has a shelf life in perpetuity.  

Noake-Masabane was oblivious to the fact that the US alert was directed at US citizens living in South Africa.  It was not for her, or the security cluster, to question the source for the terror alert. There are some 8 million US citizens living abroad, and  the protection of its citizens is of the utmost priority.  The fact that the minister criticised the US for its "disingenuous" actions will not deter the US from issuing warnings in the future.  If the minister, or the security cluster felt slighted by the alert so be it!  The alert had nothing to do with the government's inability( as it suggested) to protect its citizens.   Smacks of deep seated inferiority complex issues wouldn't you say?

One explanation advanced for the minister initiating a diplomatic protest is her animus towards the US.  One thing is, however, patently obvious:  she lacks the temperament and intellect for the important portfolio.  She may be gifted in other areas.  To this end, Luthuli House should deploy her to one of the many cabinet positions where she can be seen but not heard, and can do no further harm. 

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S GRAVY TRAIN FOR PROFESSIONAL VAMPIRES

It was reported that the audit firm KPMG earned a staggering R23 million of taxpayer money in compiling a forensic report on the SARS "rogue" unit. Surely the stupendous cost of the report should induce some sense of consternation for the service provided by KPMG. It would be interesting to learn if the government agency that engaged KPMG has questioned the reasonableness of the cost. Fees billed for professional services must be reasonable in keeping with the nature and scope of the work done. This test applies equally to auditors, accountants, lawyers, doctors and professions in general. The taxpayer has a right to know if he received "bang for his buck" in forking out R23 million! The government spends millions upon millions of Rand on outside professional services of which forensic services and litigation support constitute a significant portion. Hopefully there are controls in place to insure that government is getting reasonable value for the money it spends. Wishful thinking? Probably.

ANC RANK AND FILE AND THE LURE OF PUBLIC OFFICE

All is not well under the ANC tent. There is a struggle by those wanting their preferred candidates to secure a place on the list of ANC candidates for the coming local elections. The need for inclusion on the list is paramount towards a winning jackpot for a life of power, prestige and vast wealth. Rank and file ANC members have finally come to the realization that public office is not reserved solely for the party's political elite and their camp followers. They believe they too are entitled to a slice of the political pie, be it wealth, power, patronage and corruption that public office so readily provides the ruling party. The days of a compliant ANC rank and file collective appears to be at an end. From hereon the politics of greed will intensify, but not indefinitely, because a party built on greed surely cannot endure.

A HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM A HEART ATTACK

Watching politicians on TV can be hazardous to one's health. A case in point when Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashane was recently interviewed on al-Jazeera television. A couple of minutes into the interview I felt my blood pressure rising and heart rate increasing. I did what I suspect some do to prevent the onset of chest and shoulder pains, precursors to a heart attack: shout, scream, squirm and cringe. Other than a possible infarction,  it would not obviously have abated the minister's anecdotal ramblings, but it did provide some personal cathartic relief. The role of a minister in foreign affairs is embedded in diplomacy requiring utmost tact and skill. None of these attributes were plainly present in Nkoane-Mashabane's interview with al-Jazeera. She was unprepared, arrogant, intent on sidestepping questions, and oblivious to the irreparable damage she inflicted on the country. The country faces enormous political and economic problems without the likes of Nkoana-Mashabane begriming our image abroad. In addition to not being the sharpest knife in Zuma's cabinet, she does not have the intellect and temperament for the important portfolio.