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31 January 2012 12:35

Why government will regret e-tolling

Sipho Ngcobo warns that it could lead to social unrest.

JOHANNESBURG - It has all the hall-marks of something that might end very, very badly. Its mere mention evokes violent emotions and sends people’s blood pressure levels soaring.

It is dangerous – very, very dangerous.

Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele may have temporarily suspended his controversial electronic tolling system on Gauteng’s roads, but this whole scary thing might have government regretting it ever embarked on this costly exercise.

Yes, Ndebele has ordered a halt to this unnecessary form of taxation on citizens who are already stretched financially.

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25 January 2012 13:55

Why Limpopo’s premier should resign

Sipho Ngcobo argues that the Limpopo mismanagement needs to be taken seriously.

JOHANNESBURG - If Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale takes full responsibility for the financial shambles in his province, as he has just admitted, then he must do the right thing and resign.

How else can he justify staying on another day when he is so incapable and incompetent – when, by his own admission, he is presiding over a province that was mismanaged to its knees.

He and his executives, supported by certain journalists and so-called political analysts trivialised President Jacob Zuma’s decision to place that province under administration (at least some departments) as a political move aimed at discrediting Mathale because of his ties with Julius Malema.

How can so many people, who claim to be professional look at issues in a such a linear...

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22 December 2011 03:00

Why government placed 3 provinces in administration

Sipho Ngcobo argues that it all came down to deployees with a sense of entitlement.

What did I tell you the other day?

Ink has hardly dried on my recent column on, (guess who?)

Your incompetent civil servants!

It took a special national cabinet sitting recently to resolve taking over control of major provincial departments citing concerns over their state of financial management and governance.

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08 December 2011 17:40

Moody’s intellectual laziness

Sipho Ngcobo argues it is time rating agencies are called to account.

JOHANNESBURG - Rating agencies – international rating agencies!

Who are they accountable to?  Who are they policed by? In case of inaccurate data used, for instance, that may cause or result in the down-grading of a country’s credit rating, who takes responsibility for this?

Surely, if you make such critical decisions and pronouncements on other people, somehow, you must also be judged. Whoever judges you must be entirely satisfied that you have applied absolute rigour in passing judgement on others. So, if you are policed and judged and you are found wanting, there must be consequences.

Who judges the rating agencies like Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s and others?

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02 November 2011 13:14

The civil servants headache

Sipho Ngcobo warns that civil servants will tear this country apart unless something is done.

JOHANNESBURG - You just have to wonder what types of people these are?

I am telling you man – these people - these civil servants will tear this country apart. Not because they want to but because they just can’t help it. That’s just the way they are.

But yes, let’s give praise where it’s due. There are scattered pockets of excellence in government.

But the general levels of incompetence and complacency run very deep. It’s so, so depressing.

You just have to wonder how we ended up here.

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