African Rainbow Minerals’ Dr Patrice Motsepe is correct to demand in the loudest possible voice that South Africans must insist once and for all that the principle of employing the best person for the job is exercised across the entire public sector, irrespective of race or gender.
It is “absolutely, absolutely non-negotiable”, Motsepe emphasised, when reporting the loss of exported volume by his company – because of the inability of the State-owned enterprise, Transnet, to get available mined iron-ore, manganese, and coal to the ports adequately.
Whether people are black, white, coloured or Indian, if they are the best, the job must be theirs, he insisted. Otherwise, the whole of South Africa suffers. The private sector is not only having to fund those who are not doing the job, but they are now also having to provide additional resources to ensure that the job is done.
As Motsepe stressed, the country needs results from the likes of Transnet and Eskom. Their fidgeting must no longer be tolerated.