So Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan has done it again. After a shocking indifference across the ANC on the Chancellor House/Eskom scandal, she has stood up again to be counted. For those who missed it, this is where the ANC, with a 25% shareholding in Hitachi, is set to fleece you and I through the horrendous electricity hike which will eventually fund the ANC to run another extravagant election campaign and remain in power ad infinitum. She must be commended for pointing out the obvious — that there is a conflict of interest if the ruling party is to benefit in any way from the decisions of Eskom, of which it is essentially the sole shareholder.
How refreshing to meet a minister who has shown pure courage of her convictions in going against the grain. Her stature is quietly growing as one of the few ministers who can speak her mind in an environment that is intoxicated by a mindless closing of ranks and the habitual trading of insult instead of an exchange of ideas. Indeed in an environment where people are asked to shut down their intellect lest they are targeted for “redeployment”, it must take some courage indeed for a minister not to fear stating so many truths. In a sense this is the kind of politician that South Africa needs. In the midst of shady deals, unprincipled leadership and “the do as I say, not as I do” cancer, we need more of the likes of Hogan to bring our country back from the precipice.
So how refreshing, let’s examine her meteoric rise against growing ANC complacency:
As health minister she was the first to openly reject the Aids denialism of the ANC government at the time. It boggles the mind why she was then removed so fast from that post and replaced by Motsoaledi when the entire health fraternity was breathing a sigh of relief at the removal of the late Tshabalala-Msimang. As a result Motsoaledi has been unable to introduce anything new but broken promises to doctors on their parlous pay and has spent too much time praise-singing for Zuma’s new “leadership from the front on HIV and Aids” — another broken promise given the Sonono baby saga.
When the South African government mindlessly refused the Dalai Lama entry into South Africa, she spoke out even if it meant a slap on the wrist. This was one time, when in my view, it was quite acceptable to speak out of turn and expose the ANC’s embarrassing sell-out position on a matter that saw the Nobel laureates in our country pull out of an international conference meant to promote peace in the world. Hogan will go down in history as a minister who showed principle when many, who were equally embarrassed, remained quiet and afraid to raise their voices.
When the ANC Youth League and Black Management Forum invited her to enter the Maroga fray at Eskom, she resisted. It seems that what caused Bobby Godsell to quit was the president attempting to override Hogan’s stance of non-interference. You cannot, even as the mighty government, appoint a board of directors and then turn them into puppets. Hogan, when history recounts the facts, would have acted from principle again much to the annoyance of the power-drunk brigade within the ruling party.
One of the most heated debates within the tripartite alliance was the saga surrounding the appointment of Transnet chief executive and the ambition of suspended executive Siyabonga Gama to ascend to that position . Hogan was in the middle of it again. While unprincipled ministers spoke out of turn lobbying for a pseudo-candidate — someone who was not even shortlisted by the Transnet board — Hogan kept her cool. She stood her ground and refused to be bullied. This was in stark contrast to Siphiwe Nyanda who spoke of what now appears to be self-interest given the revelation that his company benefited from Transnet tenders. Time will reveal why Jeff Radebe said boldly “some of us will make sure he is appointed”. Is there some benefit flowing to him as well? As in every cloud Zuma was the silver lining here calling both ministers and the so-called Sandton ANC branch to order for pretending to be employment agents. But you have to admire that Hogan has, up to now, not yielded to the bullying — let historical records show that she remained firm.
The recent conflict-of-interest utterance by Hogan must rank as the most direct challenge to the blurring of party and state. Let’s remember that she was the first one to state that parastatals, which are not performing, must be disposed of. Because of that piece of reality she was one of the first ministers to be summoned to Luthuli House. In many ways her very courage to speak out also gave the country a glance at who is really running the country between Zuma and Mantashe. Now the president has instituted a commission to establish what we already know about why parastatals are failing — cadre deployment and political interference.
Would it not be nice to have more ministers guided more by their oath of office and less by their petty party machinations? Would it not be a breath of fresh air to have ministers who do not take unprincipled positions that violate the Constitution and undermine citizens’ confidence in government actions? I am not holding my breath.
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23 Responses to “We need more ministers like Hogan”
If she does not survive the next cabinet shuffle, we will know the real colours of our rainbow government: green, yellow and black.
Thank you, JJ, for a principled and forceful article.
Minister Hogan has been a target for the Malema-ites who dissed her during the D’alai Lama affair, without even knowing her struggle history! She was courageous from the get go but back then she was in step with the mainstream of the ANC. Thanks to the advance of the kakocracy over the past ten years she is close to being persona non grata. Certainly her straight talk on HIV/AIDS made her too popular to be allowed to remain as Minister of Health. She was a threat on two counts: she was a woman and she was white. (Look at the vicious attacks on non-black Ministers like Cronin, Gordhan, Manuel, Gill Marcus, and of course Premier Helen Zille). No one other than Zuma and his henchmen can be seen as ‘heroic’–certainly not a woman. Not in the misogynist ANC/YL of today.
Sadly, her courage pointing in out the conflict of interest–although done in a very ‘low key’ manner–is likely to result in her being dropped from the cabinet altogether or, at best, retained in a different portfolio.
Sadder still is that she would be far better off in Opposition where her courage and intelligence could help to strengthen our democracy. As it is, her days in government are numbered. Malema can be relied upon to guarantee it.
Don’t worry, Hogan will be eliminated from any leadership post soon. Malema will again say, taht there are countless otfher black candidates who could do a better job.
I wish her al the best,she has my respect,one of the people I am very dissapointed in is Jeff Radebe,what was that all about?.The loyalty syndrome,even when people show disrespect,selfishness and utter disregard for thier plight,our people still vote for them,I recently had a chat with a friend over this,it happened to me where I have been buying food from a lady in the street,but the food has changed of late,the quality is poor,the taste as well is not what I was used to,when I changed to someone else I felt so guilty,i could not even look her in the eye,Is this the same with the “struggle heroes” as well.
I know people who wish to vote other parties but cant because of this,I know a lady who married his rapist,but have not spoken about it.The question then comes, what we have been taught is it still relevant,can we afford to be this loyal anymore?This syndrome affects a lot of businesses as well.At what point do we say enough,I have been lambasted for putting my uncles in their places sometimes,Im sorry I dont care who you are but if you disrespect my parents,dont expect me to shut up,at some point nonsense should be nonsense,politically this is destroying my country,how can we get out of it??
I do not buy to that JJ,she is grandstanding,Chancellor House will still be in business irrespective of what she says,she must act on it,then that will convince even a mouse about her good intentions,it is then that she will have demonstrated that her talking is fllowed by action,which will be excellent of her.She is nevertheless promising but she can do more
“Her stature is quietly growing as one of the few ministers who can speak her mind in an environment that is intoxicated by a mindless closing of ranks and the habitual trading of insult instead of an exchange of ideas.”
You are wrong, they all can, they just don’t!
Barabara Hogan is the only ANC politician I am able to respect. Sadly, she is unlikely to switch parties once she is dumped and the only voice of sanity will be lost.
Tabane your argument is one-sided, flimsy and ill-informed. It is not true that Hogan was the first within the ANC to reject Aids denialism. Alliance partners who hold dual membership (SACP and ANC) have raised this issue strongly before her. It is also very interesting that Hogan like yourself before you joined COPE, only managed to find her voice (of reason) after the recall of Thabo Mbeki. Where was her (or your) strong character prior to that?
It is totally iniquitous to contrast Hogan and Motsoaledi tenure. The issues that he is facing were there when she was Health Minister. What did she do to address or mitigate them? Your ignorance on what Motsoaledi has done is mind boggling. He has brought in new approach and zeal towards the mitigation of concerns within the health sector. He has never backed down when leadership is needed within the sector. He has shown willingness to listen to doctors, nurses and scientists who are hugely significant, given the history of conflict between those at the frontline and those in power. He has initiated health drives including supporting the Zulu King’s call for male circumcision and the new plan aimed at reducing the rate of infection by 50% by 2011 and provide antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to 80% of those who need the treatment among others.
Mangosuthu Buthelezi puts your argument to shame he said during the KZN Health Budget Debate “Motsoaledi’s frankness is refreshing, his diagnosis and prescription are spot on. I say this because for the first time in 15 years a Minister of Health has admitted that the deterioration of public health services could be blamed on government’s neglect, chronic under funding, as well as a host of bad decisions, poor management and wastefulness”
Mark Heywood, director of the Aids Law Project and deputy chairperson of the SANAC, further dismisses your squabble, “We are beginning to see change around HIV in South Africa,” “I can put my hand on my heart and say I believe this Minister of Health, and I trust this Minister of Health.” he said.
The issue of the Dalai Lama is a complicated one, read the argument put forward by Dr. Porlo Jordan to understand the position taken by the ANC. There are also other issues like economic relations that the ANC like the Obama led Democrats in the USA needed to consider.
Excellence should not be measured on what one speaks but on deliverables. Speaking against the ANC does not mean that she is brave or competent because history has taught us that people like her do things like this to push their own agendas. Dismissing (and not engaging) a professionals’ body like the BMF is uncalled for since it has a right to lobby for anyone, it is a largest single body that has black talent. We should therefore, not dismiss their view as “lobbying for a pseudo-candidate”.
Do you quit frankly believe that she is independent, has no agenda and will not appoint her team to lead the parastatals? What has Hogan achieved since taking over the Public Enterprises? Where is a blue print on solving the challenges faced by SAA, Eskom, Transnet and Denel among others? What actions has she taken against corrupt individuals? Words are not an achievement…
@Phetego. You ask how you can get out of it. Wear an ANC T-Shirt and vote for the opposition - any party although the strongest is always best - and help stem the tide of majority rule before it becomes too entrenched and denies us basic freedoms such as the one on which we even now are speaking. Share what you learn by speaking out as you do to those around you who do not have access to internet as we do. Reach out to all Saffas and you will find they will listen and respect you for having a brain and mind of your own.
I only picked up your blog late in the day so,here I am, once again at the bottom of a loooong queue.
BOETIE, OPPAS!: YOU HAVE FALLEN INTO THE TRAP !! YOU WRITE:
…there is a conflict of interest if the ruling party is to benefit in any way from the decisions of Eskom, of which it is essentially the sole shareholder
SURELY, IT IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT (READ SOUTH AFRICA) THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SOLE SHAREHOLDER, AND EMPHATICALLY NOT THE ANC,THAT PROFITEERS FROM IT ?!!
That said, you must be commended for drawing Barbara Hogan’s achievements together most admirably. You are right: if only there were more ministers like her
@ Phetogo - ever heard the saying ‘You are my brother but in business we are strangers’? I think it should apply to politics too. You can still be loyal to your party but expect elected politicians to do the jobs they were hired for and deliver on the promises they make. I am grappling with the same issue now that the time has come to build onto my house. A friend who is a builder needs the work and I want to help him. But is it ever a good idea to mix business and friendship? I fear he will not take me seriously.
Words in a society that is under fear and patronage are indeed an achievement.
My argument is that she speaks out where others fear to tread. You have some valid point re motswaledi I never said that he should be writen off I am saying that he has failed doctors who are still earning peanuts 11 months after he has made noise about heloung them to stop earning peanuts. Seconddly I am critical about him making Zuma a hero of the new approach….this was hypocritical as Zuma deputised Mbeki with silence and headed up the Aids Council with incompetence.
So I am not contrasting Hogan and Arron’s Tenures I am merely saying I have no clue why she was resshafled when the entire fraternity was happy with her leadership. She was the first health minister in a long time to say anything sensible on Aids - that I stand by it completelely.
You have no argeument against the shameful Daila Lama refusal to entry. Tutu and Deklerk I am sure were not crazy to boycott the conference based on this. There was outcry everywhere so much that the new minister of iNternational relations rcently said the Daila Lama will now be welcome so whatever argument was advanced has now conveniently expeired …after the ourcry of the whole country.
Hogan was write to show BMF and ANCYL the MIDDLE finger on Maroga they had no business asking her to undermine the baord of Eskom period.
@Balt….that is the spin that you will be fed - that the ANC will have little to do with the decision that will see it emerge as one of the beneficiaries of people’s misery. If you cut through that spin….you will agree with me when I say it is ” essentially ” the sole shareholder….It does not even need to outovote anyone to make a decision that will benefit the ruling party so blatantly. Finally this is even more so true given that the ANC has perfected the art of blurring the lines between party and state so well that only those with blinkers will see the difference. The deployment policy - it seems to me - is not going to be abandoned soon. There arnt enough townships that have gone up in flames to warrant such a departure from a policy that is responsible for the collapse of services and the systemic inefficiency and incompotence of state apparatus. So even in that instance we could blame government and pretend it is not the ANC but lets cut through the spin and admit quite frankly - The ANC is to blame and we need to learn to put the blame at the right door if we are to fins solutions to our country’s multiple problems.
Thanks for the complementg nevertheless. I hope it will not turn Hogan into a skunk in the ANC….
jj…wouldnt you say that deliberating the merits/demerits of one lonesome figure in an oligarchist political party is somewhat of a fruitless exercise?…essentially, it is quite clear that not unlike “kortbroek” van Schalkwyk, Hogan is merely a pawn in the ANC to satisfy the warped sense of reality of white leftist-inclined liberals, and to give the ruling party some “credibility” in terms of demographical representation.
Quite clearly, no matter what Hogan does to speak truth to power she will be increasingly marginalised in a movement where recent requests (by the big man) to debate “morals” (in the African context?)clearly highlights a lack of any intention to rid the ruling party of the decay which is presently consuming it. Perhaps it would be an interesting initiative for you to define “morals” (in an article) and to indicate to the buffoon-filled regime that morals are not culturally-specific/autonomous but that they are universal - perhaps the term “democracy” can also be deliberated in terms of cultural relativism…thhe most principled thing that Hogan can do is to resign - this would put country before (misguided) ideology…there’s an old saying: “farting against thunder does’nt work!
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Onkgopotse JJ Tabane is Chief Executive of Oresego Holdings - International Business Advisors. He is an accredited Associate of the Institute for Independent Business International (iib). He writes here in his personal capacity.
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Onkgopotse JJ Tabane is a Media and Communications Specialist who has become a public commentator on a wide range of socio political issues over the last decade.
He has cut his teeth in both Government and Private Sector as a top communicator winning awards such as the Government Communicator of the year in 2002 and holding senior positions such as Ministerial Spokesperson for various ministers, Head of Ministry of Environmental Affairs, Communications Advisor to the Chamber of Mines Communications Vice President and General Manager at South African Airways as well as Chief Executive of Graphicor and Simeka Communications. He has also held a senior corporate affairs Job at Top Electonic Company Altron where he was in Charge of the company’s Transformation Programme and Corporate Social Investment.
When COPE was formed in 2008 Tabane quit his Corporate Job to Join COPE as their Head of Communications leading up to the 2009 General election. Until July 2010 Today amongst his many activities he was the Political Advisor to Former COPE Parliamentary Leader Dr Mvume Dandala and occasional contributor to many publications. He has also served on various boards of directors including as a member of the Gauteng Tourism Authority, Johannesburg Tourism Authority and until recently chaired the board of the Indalo Yethu Environmental Campaign.
He is still a member of the Northwest University Council where he is serving his second term. JJ Tabane is widely known for his forthright manner of debate and fearless tackling of public commentary since his student days where he was SRC President and Vice President at the Universities of the North and Western Cape where he qualified in Law and Politics. He holds a BA,( UNIN), BPROC (UWC) and Masters in Political Economy (NMMU).
He is married to Lorraine Ditshedi Tabane and has two children, Oreabetse (4) and Resego (12) after whom he has named his newly launched International Advisory Business Oresego Holdings.
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If she does not survive the next cabinet shuffle, we will know the real colours of our rainbow government: green, yellow and black.
Would not come as a revelation, would it?
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