Only BOSA’s plan can unite everyone around a professional government that builds for all

8 May 2024

When BOSA unveiled our Manifesto – The Jobs Plan – we made it clear to voters that our primary focus in government would be to build a working economy that creates jobs, creates wealth, and improves living standards of all South Africans.

Part of that plan outlines how BOSA would build a capable state for jobs. Because growing the economy and creating jobs depends on a capable state machinery that is able to provide basic services to businesses, execute against government plans, and root out malpractice and corruption that halts growth
Today we are here outside the Union Buildings in the nation’s Capital City to expand on this aspect of our plan, as to how we build a professionalised, world class government and a capable state free from corruption.

The lived reality for many South Africans is that at every point when they encounter the government, they experience powerlessness, frustration and poor service delivery. Whether they are dealing with the police, home affairs, or traffic department officials, the experience is one of perennial disappointment.

At the same time that civilians drive over pothole-filled roads, and rely on private healthcare and private security, all citizens are paying taxes for services that they do not receive.

It has become painfully apparent that our country is currently led by a corrupt and unproductive government that impedes well-meaning civil servants from carrying out their duties.

The toxic combination of crippling red tape and wasteful expenditure has contributed directly to widespread infrastructure decay, an ailing economy, and the systemic collapse of education, healthcare and criminal justice.

Without a functional government – the output side – it matters little what policies and plans are fed through the input side.

The first thing to fix, before we get onto policies and plans, is the “state of the state”. It is not the goals that help you win, but rather the systems of governance you put in place. Building the house is important, but the foundation is critical; without it, all else collapses.

Today we can outline our top 10 interventions that will be implemented within the first 100 days of a BOSA-led national government to change the status quo.

1. Cut down on the number of government departments and ministries 10 “superministries”, streamlined and attractive to top talent.

2. Launch an incentive-based scheme for all public sector employees and a national recruitment drive to professionalise public service.

3. Establish Specialised Corruption Courts, with the mandate to investigate and prosecute corruption in the public and private sector.

4. Implement continuous forensic lifestyle audits – through an Ethics Ombudsman - of all politicians and senior government officials. This will look into bank accounts, debit payments, school fees payments, trust accounts and all money that changed hands with politicians.

5. Sign performance contracts with every senior government employee. Managed by a service provider from outside of government. 

6. Open up the appointment process for Cabinet positions in order for the President to appoint the best candidates to the Cabinet, not only Members of Parliament.

7. Review the mandates and functions of all state-owned enterprises (SOEs). If they are no longer required, shut them down.

8. Reform of the Public Service Commission for stricter appointment guidelines and job specifications.

9. Digitization of all public procurement contracts and transactions for transparency and efficiency, and a digitized rating system for public officials, with penalties for consistently low ratings.

10. Change the law to a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted of corruption. and we will digitise and open the tender process.

Our candidates will be working hard for the next 22 days, taking our offer from community to community in a bid to build a fairer, inclusive and more equal South Africa where there is a job in every home.

This election, we have had enough of the status quo. We have had enough of mediocre.

For 30 years this government has squandered its opportunity to forge a shared heritage for South Africa.

For 30 year, it has failed to capitalize on the goodwill of South Africans and on the diverse talent pool of this country.

For 30 years this government has failed to weave a social fabric of resilience that is attractive to all.

We must part the past and lift our eyes to the future. The next 30 years are ours to own, ours to shape a new shared future we can all be proud of.

That is what this election is about.

Issued by Roger Solomons, Acting Spokesperson, BOSA, 8 May 2024