Dynamites come in small packages. It sounds like a truism, but this old adage hold truth in the Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr. Malusi Gigaba. I had an opportunity to listen, attentively so, and engage with the minister at a recent BMF evening discussion forum organised by the Tshwane branch held on the 28th March. I may sound like I'm blowing the minister’s trumpet. I am invoked and inspired by his enthusiasm to serve the nation in a manner that is worth writing about. Unfortunately, there was no media present during that night to capture the thought and the essence of this young and bright minister. The evening was organised in a different way as the minister was not expected to deliver any speech. A set of questions were predetermined by BMF members for the minister. His response to the questions meant that he had to present his answers in a manner equivalent to a speech. He was concise, profound and thorough in his response. His context to the questions gave a sense of a servant that understands the call for a public duty with specific reference to his own responsibility.
His theme to the questions asked addressed major quandaries facing, not only South Africa, but the entire continent of Africa. There were a few questions that he answered and a few comments or suggestions that were presented to him. The two questions that stood out for me and struck a nerve, related firstly, to the programmes that government, particularly his department, is developing and driving to develop youth with the aim to create jobs and secondly, aligned to the first question, the role State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) is playing in a developmental state with specific reference to transformation, skills development and job creation particularly the youth given its highest unemployment rate as it were. In his opening remarks as he was preparing to respond to the questions as asked, he quipped to the mirth of the audience. “I am not an economist, but just a hard-worker who requires the support of professionals like you” quipped the minister, meaning BMF members and society at large. His response to the first question was filled with the depth of what it means to be a responsible society in an economic revolution. He maintained, throughout his presentation of answers that the youth and young professionals should not only look to what the state or government should do for them, but what they should do for the society when the state has given them a platform for development and dialogue. He was emphatic on professionals being the true role models of the younger generation for the betterment of their future and that of the society.
He was critical of the role modelling through materialistic display such as “sushi culture”. He challenged the middle class and the young professionals to be true role models and plough back to the communities on which they were born and raised, mainly because most of them came to Gauteng as a result of employment. He was unequivocal about the role he plays in his area of birth by regenerating the village, which has become peri-urban, by harnessing the efforts and galvanising support of young professional and middle class that were born and raised in the area. For me this was a display, from the minister, of leading by example. He took a snap on the lack of policy implementation and speedy service delivery. His lucid example was the fact that youth unemployment was way higher than any segment of society by 1996. But it took service delivery protests two years ago and burning of tires by communities that all of a sudden there’s a wake-up call to make noise about the high unemployment rate amongst the youth. My observation is that the minister if passionate about the youth given his background. I suspect, I may be wrong, that he stills feels young, perhaps not by age, but at heart. To recall, indeed he is right about this and to consider at the time that he was an active “young lion” during that period, perhaps not as abrasive as the current “young lions” inspired by sushi. What enthused me was his emphasis on, again, not displaying a political rhetoric, but offering a solution that his department would do to assist and contribute to the society by alleviating the challenges as he outlined, especially those of youth unemployment and lack of skills. His logical and eloquent answer is found in his respond to the second question of the role that State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) is playing in a developmental state with specific reference to transformation, skills development and job creation.
Once again, his answer to this question was clear with measurable outcomes and absent of a political rhetoric and quagmire. His profound answer was that all SOE’s especially those with a huge capital programme like Transnet and Eskom must ensure that in spending their infrastructure programmes, there must be opportunities for local development of industries and manufacturing through a competitive supplier development programmes (CSDP). There must be job creation out of all infrastructure programme undertaken by these SOE’s. How is he going to monitor this? In his four months leading the Public Enterprise Portfolio, he has met the Chairmen of all SOE’s. The content of these meetings comprises accountability by the Chairmen of SOE as to how much job they have created through the capital infrastructure programmes and how much of these jobs were created for youth. To this effect his department is to collaborate with the Department of Higher Education on a programme that would seek to develop students from EFT’s and Universities through artisanship in SOEs. We will watch the space to see and hear developments on this one. Also, the minister will be asking the Chairmen of SOEs what skills development programmes are in place by SOE’s to ensure that by the time the infrastructure programmes are complete, the skills gaps is narrower if not closed. These are among other key strategic issues that the Minister will be tackling in his quarterly meetings with the Chairmen of the SOEs. This instils confidence in the society in the minister who has a knack of grasping the role of his portfolio enterprises and craft a clear monitoring and evaluating system of measuring the performance against the policies of the ruling party (government) and not of his own.
His other profound response, as I conclude, was his resounding thought and vision about the role that South Africa, through his department (SOEs) in particular, should play in developing the South-North corridor from an infrastructure perspective. “...South Africa will not grow its economy with the 49 million citizens while the rest of Africa is underdeveloped...” emphasised the minister. For South Africa to realize its potential to grow the economy, it has to play a big role in assisting other African countries to develop its infrastructure, particularly SADC and other regional blocks in the continent. Clearly, his drive for this goal is derived from the President’s goal of developing Africa as a key emerging market for the benefit of our own country. His articulation and expression of passion about the development of this country and the continent make him a servant of note. His peers have a difficult act to follow. I hope that the bureaucratic system will not derail him and stifle his thought leadership and passion to serve the nation in a meticulous and tireless manner. After all he may not be an economist, but for me he thinks line one. That makes him one. All the best to Minister Gigaba and his handful team, yet facing a mountain challenge.
