There is a pattern emerging of late of South African nationals being given responsibility over some of the most critical assets of this country, highlighted perhaps by the eye-popping appointment of Jacqueline Fick as chairman of the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP).
Her appointment to the hot seat of our national asset, notwithstanding her impeccable CV as being former national prosecuting authority (NPA) employee or former deputy director of the Scorpions and some kind of corporate guru – whatever that means – comes in the wake of turmoil at the State-owned entity, during which the longstanding chief executive was shown the door and its chairman walked off the position unceremoniously.
Only Khetshidile Masisi knows what forced her out of the position, save to say that it tells its own story coming in the wake of a series of issues in the troubled entity.
The controversy of the human resources executive aside, there seems to be a lot going on at RSTP that now makes it a cause for serious concern. But, I must say, the acting chief executive officer has been given more time to try and steady the ship, while also still juggling the other role as chief finance officer.
It is fair to say that she has her work cut out, with so many people still disgruntled, so much not going right and that elephant in the room being the parastatal bleeding money – and apparently not getting funding from government, making it extremely difficult to turn the fortunes around.
Truth
Some of the things we have come to know and read about also depend on who you speak to or whose truth you believe, such as for instance how Walter Bennett has been appearing before the Liqoqo in somewhat support of the former CEO.
But, back to the matter at hand. Jacqueline Fick’s appointment follows Dede Management Consultancy being handed the tender to conduct a forensic investigation, which we have not heard about since this newspaper revealed one of the firm’s investigating officer’s controversial arrest for theft.
While that story remains readily available on the internet, it is strangely not permitted to be published lakhaya. Perhaps readers of this newspaper will be interested to know that the officer was at some stage an employee of the same NPA that the new chairman also worked for.
Desperate
From a distance, it may very well look like ICT Minister Savannah Maziya has cast her net wide because she is desperate for a solution and quick turnaround. Perhaps she is looking at the bigger picture of there being too many issues to solve at Nokwane and therefore, calling on the best there is around.
The jury though, is out on this, as a strategy to make RSTP the entity it should be, at the expense of locals who are just as capable – with all the right support.
There are claims that the Board at RSTP has taken a position not to go local and have ignored some of those with potential – for whatever their reasons are. Perhaps now that we have Jacqueline, it is now an open secret.
I have no qualms with that and I wish her well. However, we have to be circumspect of this position of exporting our challenges – which comes with a lot of risks.
Concerns were always there, the first foreign-based chairman and a few other directors in the board were appointed. It backfired terribly and Dr Phindile Masangane – a very credible and brilliant appointment – was hounded out of that position.
There will be others to weigh in on the sensitivities that come with this position; about the security issues and the practicality of the position. I suppose the latter we shall have to leave to the incoming chair – however, long she lasts.
Trend
But of course, back to my point about the emerging trend of us running to import the solutions to our crises in this country, from the initial appointment of the Fundudzi Forensic Services to the litany of consultants now coming in with briefcases to perform forensic investigations while they produce dodgy reports that do not even begin to give us the answers we are looking for.
The people who lost their wealth of investment at Ecsponent have watched helplessly as the report collects dust at whoever has it in Parliament and elsewhere.
In the meantime, we are talking about empowerment; job creation; youth unemployment; corruption. All these things are happening right under our noses and my God, it is such a scandal!
This made me reflect this week how this country is long overdue its own Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi moment, whose revelations have thrown South Africa into a spin. It is not long of course, before we get to witness this kind of unravelling in this country, try as they might to hide the truth. That moment is coming, and those who are corrupt should brace themselves.
Disappear
For now though, Shauwn Mkhize might join the bandwagon and take charge of one of the country’s institutions and not even bother to immerse herself in that steeped tradition – because what does it matter, she has money to throw around to make the problem disappear.
And of course, there are people willing and ready to dance to her music, no matter how silly they look attempting it.
Or how much they should bang their heads in shame for selling the soul of such an important institution.
For all it matters, Shauwn Mkhize and her band of followers should not be allowed anywhere near our football. But here we are, cap in hand for a South Africa miracle, as if we haven’t learnt anything from the previous South African who left Mbabane Highlanders worse off than he found it.
This, unfortunately is the era of doing the same thing more than once and expecting a different result. Which, is, sadly, plain foolish.
If anything, this new thing of looking for a foreign solution only serves to create more unwanted problems, and taking us backwards.
Eswatini Observer Press Reader | View Here
