Today marks the 13th day since the president of South Africa Mr. Jacob Zuma was sworn into office as the President of this country. The first thirteen days have been relatively calm as the president seeks to gather his cabinet team to turn their attention to the challenges that are faced by South Africa. Mr. Zuma’s team comprises of ministers that are well respect and have reputations of being competent heads that are highly skilled, and many analysts are favouring this team to do an astounding work in improving the various issues that our country is faced with.
The president’s team has however had to face their first challenge, when it was reported that one of the ministers had received a gifts from an emerging contractors company. Among other various gifts that the minister received was a S600 Mercedes Benz which is valued at R 1.2 million. There was a subsequent outcry by the media on the minister receiving the gift and a lot of pressure was placed on the minister to return the gift, various organizations echoed the same message which for the minister to return the gifts, even COSATU and SACP also emotivated for the gifts to be returned. Although there was no specific legislation that encouraged the minister to return the gifts that he had received, so had the minister chosen to keep the gifts he was entitled to do so as this was not in breach of any policy. The minister at hand was therefore caught in a situation where if he did the right thing which was to keep the gifts ; as nothing was wrong policy wise in him keep the gifts, or whether to do the honourable thing which would have been to return the gifts so as to avoid any complication that could arise from him keeping them. As South Africans we are glad that he chose to do the honourable thing which was to return the gifts for the sake of preventing any issues or hassles that could arise from keeping the gift.
We would like recommend Mr. Sbu Ndebele for doing the honourable thing as his actions, serve to inspire us as a nation to see that sometimes when you’re a leader you have to forsake your own rights for the welfare of your followers. This honourable behaviour by the transport minister is exemplary and should be heard all over Africa, that sometimes as a leader you have to compromise on what your entitled to for the sake of those that follow you and might aspire to be like you in the near future. As a potential leader in our nation I recommend the minister for his conduct in returning the gift, and his actions also set a very high standard for the whole cabinet in terms of avoiding issues that could have negative consequences in the future.
The minister also asked that the gifts including the R1.2 million worth Mercedes be sold and the funds be used to train up emerging contractors. This statement by the minister is also exemplary, as it will also help many emerging or aspiring contractors in the country. We look forward to seeing more honourable deeds by our ministers in the next five years while they are in office.
By : Senzo Mzila
