The return of a top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz by a senior cabinet minister marks an important turning point in the culture of entitlement and kickbacks in government circles.
Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele’s decision will, inevitably, restore faith in the ANC leadership.
It is not only a coordinate for taking an anti-corruption stance but a resounding statement that it is not necessary for those who get a government tender or contract to say “thank you” to those who do their job well.
It is necessary for those who benefit from government empowerment schemes to resist the temptation to do the so-called African thing of showing appreciation.
Nobody owes a government minister or official anything when the latter has done the right thing, which is empower ordinary folks of this country and create opportunities for self-employment and economic independence.
Ndebele’s decision should not be undervalued. In fact it can lead to adjusting the boundaries between the prevalent culture of entitlement, control and self-aggrandisement among public officials who think they are entitled to “gifts” for doing their well-paid jobs well.
Ndebele’s return of the S-Class is a significant paradigm shift.
This society is confronted with an extraordinary difficulty where the worth of an individual is, to a large extent, determined by the value of the car they drive.
It’s time material worship was discouraged, especially among public service leaders that could use the money to improve the lot of the suffering African masses.
Ndebele has set an excellent example that should challenge many not only to re-examine moral values but rethink the tendency to obsess about the cars we drive. Cars are used as a yardstick for self-importance, success and achievement.
Instead, the privileged should seriously consider investing their “extra-money” in sending a poor child to a decent school or providing a start-up fund for go-getters to start small businesses.
Ndebele’s personal choice not only makes a resounding statement against self-aggrandisement but constitutes the best example of ethical behaviour by a government minister in Africa.
It’s a very good thing that President Jacob Zuma only reminded him of the rules and did not decide for him.
As he returns the car, many people are incensed that this is an insult to the African culture of making offerings.
Without insulting so-called African culture, I would be curious to know where it says resources that can be used to improve the quality of life of the poor majority should be offered to an individual for doing a job that he is well-paid for.
In fact, what better statement in the name of so-called African culture could Ndebele have made than to put the interests of the poor and marginalised before his individual benefit?
Through his gesture, he has thrown the challenge back to those that have benefited from working with him to develop and create more opportunities for underprivileged people.
There are far too many people who offer so-called African culture as an excuse not only to rob the masses blind, but put themselves on the demi-god pedestal.
To be sure, Ndebele was not obliged to return the car.
In fact the rules of engagement as espoused by Zuma’s government say that the least he could have done was fully declare his “gift”. It would have been wrong for anyone to suspect or accuse Ndebele of corruption had he decided to keep the luxury car.
Thus the polite return of the car not only calls into the question so-called African cultural practices but cultivating new morals in public service where ministers and officials will immediately desist from expecting kickbacks for outstanding performance.
What Ndebele has done matters greatly in a climate where a dark cloud of alleged corruption continues to hang over his boss.
It is essential for government top dogs to be seen to be doing the right thing and Ndebele has not only set a high moral standard but shown that Zuma has entrusted leadership to men who are ready to do the right thing.
Eish, Memela, I’d love to see your legs! They must be shaped like a ballerina’s, the way you can dance.
Ndebele agonises over whether to keep his bribe; he blusters that he’s entitled to the booty; he eventually gets shamed into returning it – and you make out like he’s Saint Sbu!!
Without the fanfare he would have kept the car. Get real!
turning point or no turning point…sbu has bowed down to da’s/media’s pressure. he has chickened out. spineless leader.
emerging kzn contractors decided on their own (delightedly) that they should thank their former premier (for creating a business conducive environment) by buying or offering him something that symbolizes their deep appreciation, an object that aspires them–an S500 merc.
and in return what did they get? an outragerious slap or spat on their faces…as if they don’t understand the meaning of ethics or public finance management act.
i doubt very much that sbu would ever recover from this blunder (of seeking to embarasse hardworking minor contractors)…he has failed before he even began to resolve the taxi industry crises. so gutless..mpfximmm
Well said Sandile! It is time that all of us put displays of wealth aside and concentrate on getting this country and its people truly uplifted. Fewer bonuses and fat salaries can be a starting point and how about everyone looks at small practical cars instead of limos?
More money into public transport solutions, so that we can get there by bus or train easily and promptly. Perhaps even volunteering to clean hospitals and schools in our areas?
It wont restore faith in the ANC leadership.
Or were you too busy being fanatical to notice that the ANZ leadership and ZUMA personally astated he was entitled to keep it?
He therefore defied the ANC leadership and the SA parliamentary rules to be moral.
Dear Mr Memela
I wholeheartedly agree with you – it’s a very good sign, and it certainly bodes well for the future of the Zuma government – more opportunities, investment in and and concern for the poor, and less enrichment of the few.
He would have kept the car if a fuss hadnt been made or if there was no cloud over JZ’s head, it was legal to keep the car..so what! It’s a law that needs to be changed, no govt official should ever recieve gifts for doing his job. Sandile for once I agree with what you have written but unfortunately I have to agree with pete ess as well, its hardly the turning point or significant moment you make it out to be.
What most do not understand is that the cost of the gift is factored into the price of the goods, or tender. Therefore the tender price is inflated to cover the cost of the gift (would be called a bribe in any reasonable democracy). Ultimately the tender is overpriced so as to pay the bribe. Keep the costs real and everyone will benefit, not only the ministers. Another Million+ rand could have been spent on projects for the people, not gifts for the bribe takers.
Paul Young
As an example of setting a “high moral standard” it would have been even better if he had returned the car:
1/ Immediately
2/ Before consulting the ANC leadership
3/ Before involving his boss and creating the potential for even greater embarrassment
4/ Before creating the impression that he was merely reacting to public outrage.
Or am I just being a cynic
I think Sbu displayed a professional approach to the whole saga and agree with Sanile.
However, I do have a question: Is it not rude and bad manners for a zulu to put his leader in a bad situation. The contractors knew that large gifts can be seen as corruption and yet they went ahead and put Sbu in a difficult situation. That was very un-african of them, surely?
Mr Ndebele you could have said,no thanks mr contractors its tax money not my money rather donate say two buses to the poor schools where poor children have to walk in the rain 10ks plus on a daily base to get to school.wow then we all would have very proud of you,,,,but
I don’t see that you can call it a “turning point” yet- its a one-off incident, which may “turn” out to be an exception. However, one can but hope that more will follow….
Sbu was SHAMED into returning it. “African culture”? Bah, humbug! It’s called “bribery” everywhere else.
The current spectacle going on in the UK Parliament focuses attention on ethics, in particular that something can be within the law, yet still unethical.
Here in Africa there is a strong tradition of gift giving (which crosses racial and cultural barriers). This easily converts into habits of bribery. To refuse a gift may cause offence, if it is genuinely meant as a gift and not as a bribe. Perhaps those who hold high office need support, not only more training in ethics, but also some practical ideas for dealing with these sticky situations? “Just say no” doesn’t seem to cover it, really.
So, Mr Ndebele is no saint (saintly politicians don’t get far) but he did the right thing in the end, and that’s a relief from the same party who carried Yengeni to jail, singing and dancing as if going to jail were a great achievement. It sends out the right message.
The Anc government can take absolutely no credit in this and, as for Ndebele, his actions would have been far more laudable if he had refused the “gift” in the first place. The fact that a government official in his position actually accepted the pay-off as nothing less than his due shows just how deep seated the corruption is. The “African Way” indeed.
The fundamental reason with introduction of tenders was to develop the nation in all the sectors, finacialy and thereafter to uplift socio economic status of our people to make it close to balance than enhancing the gap between the poor and rich.
But on the adverse looking at the unjustifiable cretia used to offer tenders to individuals,is quite appalling,and bring many questions to the upstairs balanced nation whether our govt is interested at monitoring the system and evaluating if the plan is achieved through the way we have implemented this programme. Than self enriching ourselves and the cronies in which dark clouds would always be hovering above our heads , and tendency repeats itself at the expency of the poor.
One may look at this in this way , why did one contractor in one place get so much money allocated to it when there were many contractors applying for tenders?
What led to the favour of one contractor from the rest than bribe?
If any fairness was excisting within the system in granting the tenders , why did nt this contractor decide to donate this amount of money to the nation to help the govt in uplifting the lives of the poor which is the govts main objective than giving so much back to the office holder , which clearly indicates bribing the officer for more future favours.Or indirectly paying back the office bearer for the past favour and entice him for the future favour.
Dear Siphiwo
Your ‘hardworking minor contractors’ should be deeply ashamed of themselves, if they have any self-respect, for forcing an offical to make a choice between self-enrichment and doing the right thing. Trying to portray them as innocent is rather amusing, and the object that ‘aspires’ them is probably the oldest and hoariest cliche of bribery in the history of Africa since the 1960′s – the good old ‘wabenzi chariot’. Subtle it sure ain’t. How about offering school bursaries for a few thousand underpriviledged kinds as a goal to ‘aspire’ to? . All countries in the world deal with corruption, but your enthusaism and support for corrupt behaviour is remarkably naive and pathetic (in the true sense of the word, implying a certain innocence and guilelessness) attitude . SA’s people – and especially the poor – deserve far, far better.
Your comment in the final paragraph cannot go unchalleged in the light of a story appearing in todays Cape Argus.
Apparently 4 of the ANC MPs implicated in the Travelgate scandal have been elevated to head up powerful parliamentary oversight committees by the “new” Zuma administration. So much for “doing the right thing” which you refer to.
I think Zapiro sums it up brilliantly with his latest cartoon. Damn he is good….
These blind supporters of the ANC are completely erasing the meaning of the word democracy.
Untill they develop insight between what is right and accountable for to justice and wrongs like supporting blindly anything despite the clearly noted corruption to defeat justice, before their turning point it would be too late the majority of this country would not even be living on isikhokho. Our country is on the brink of the catastrophy, considering that bigger countries are already facing recesion our country is not immuned to such, let alone our reckless behaviour at present that would fuel the speed for it to exceed the countries already in the economic depression.
@Siphiwe
Being the great African that you claim to be through your diatribes, I must conclude that, were you in the ministers position, you would have grabbed the Benz. Sour grapes, perhaps??
No doubt there is a strong tradition of gift giving in Africa. That is admirable.
There is also a strong tradition of gift giving in Greece, the UK, Germany, the US, Russia, Poland, Israel, Iraq, Japan …
It is still possible everywhere to distinguish between a gift that is made out of pure generosity and one that springs from some existing or hoped-for mutually beneficial relationship. It is clear from Ndebele’s status that this gift fell into the second category – or at the very least would be seen as doing so.
It is still possible that the donors acted purely out of the spirit of ‘African culture’. But the minister could have kept faith with tradition by accepting their gift warmly and suggesting that the money was donated instead to the poor, as many have now suggested.
That he did not do so, and needed pressure to help him decide to refuse it, makes him either a)entirely unaware of his responsibilities as a minister in spite of the damaging national debate that has been going on about corruption; or b) uncaring of his responsibilities as a minister and the huge national debate. Everyone must take their pick which it is – and no doubt have.
The fact that Ndebele was finally pressured into refusing, however, should be seen as a step forward, if not yet a definite turning point, and it is nice for once to be able to agree with Sandile to that extent.
Never mind the merc – what about the historic farm he bought with a Land Bank loan and which used to employ 150 people and produce food, and is now derelict.
Did he PAY BACK THAT LOAN?
minister ndebele returned the car. how or after what does not matter. the car is returned.
premier zille has refused to make her cabinet representative. she has refused. finish & klaar.
where is the connection? given the sensitivities of both cases, corruption & the corrective symbolism of a racist country in rehabilitation, i personally think the symbolic equivalence has merit.
i personally wouldn’t give the minister too much credit. it was expected he should do well in his job, contractors put him in an embarrassing situation, etc. however, i would critisise sensitively. there is nothing illegal about keeping the car.
with my madam zille, however, things are different. i am not saying she must change her cabinet. however, she has gone against an accepted national practice of building black and female skills, against popular outcry and all that comes with it. i dont know how illegal it is these days to be gender and race insensitive. but, she held her position amid a lot of very white support, i regret to say.
these two incidents, in less than a month of each other, are very telling. one showing an accomodation of opposing ideas and the other a stubborn uncoorperative stance.
is this reflective of south african society? are blacks too accomodating? is that because we did not fight for our freedom save some of our guerilla’s? we smile too much? what?
should we expect this white rejection?
just asking, politely…
edwin matlapeng
People should be aware of the gifts of this nature to Ministers, pity enough even the president did not see anything wrong with such gift.
There might be a turning point here whereby this gift might come back to the same minister, this time in the soluble form but to the same value,
maybe R1.1 million this time in a black bag in which the public won be lucky to access information as there would be no disclosal.
It has just happened to the triapitite senior members where a black bin bag of R 500.000.00 was handed over as a present to SACP secretary ,via Mantashe ever since there has been no report on the matter.
So this party has turned to be a destination of all forms of scandals, pity enough its members seems to be unshakeable.
I can bet you a million a month won t go pass without one to be reported.
Hmmm… seems like Sbu’s NOT going to hand back his Merc after all. Not much of a promise-keeper, then?
Yebo!, Mshiniwami mshiniwami…no mention of colonials or vile mhlopi usurpers, clap hands everybody.
Regards the article I see it in this way, Sbu, contractors and gluttonous comrades try this: give your one million rand to a small community that would benefit from the assistance not make the rich richer! Pay it forward!
Does anyone actually know what has happened to the car? I understood the minister to say that he was giving it back and we can assume that he has done so. To muddy the water the donors are now reported as saying that he can dispose of the car as he sees fit. To me this suggests that they do not yet have it in their possession. A one million rand car does not simply disappear into thin air.
Then there is the interesting question of whether donations and income taxes apply, and if so who pays.
Maybe this story still has legs
look if you want to say thank you send the a man a bottle of wisky. Not a 1 000 000 car.
Does anyone know if a car has been returned yet? Keep a watch people this is ANC a destination of all forms of corruptions!
I saw his wife driving a merc but I am not sure if it is the one in question, because no one knows about its return and why is he still keeping it for?
Like hell Sbu’s going to give back the Wabenzi! He’ll “give it” sure: To a wife or a cousin.
And did he take the cattle? Did he use the petrol vouchers? The other stuff? What chance do you think he has of getting it out of his family’s hands? Anyone with a family will know Sbu has an extremely small chance of clearing up this mess.
We really should stop beating around the bush:
We have a country* where people WILL take bribes and where they WILL give favours (in the form of taxpayers’ money) to friends and family – and they WILL expect something in return for doing their well-paid job.
Mr Zuma will definitely NOT be able to stop this. NO WAY. He owes WAY too much to all these people.
*Like, for example, France, UK, USA, Russia, Australia. Just in Rands, not harder currency.