Mr Delivery. That’s how some members of the presidency characterised the ascendancy of President Thabo Mbeki in 1999. Since then Mbeki has run a managerialist presidency where emphasis is placed on delivering the “better life for all” that is a cornerstone of the African National Congress in office.
In many respects Mbeki views himself as the CEO of SA Inc — he makes use of strategic plans and holds the Cabinet to account in biannual lekgotlas. These culminate in the annual State of the Nation address, which, if read carefully, is his performance assessment. Naturally, it accentuates the positive.
On his imbizo in the North West last week, this was on show as Mbeki tried to match people’s problems to government plans; putting complainants in touch with the divisional managers.
Arguably, South Africa in 1999 was a country in need of detail and delivery. But a report released last week by the Human Rights Commission, which tracked the government’s delivery on socio-economic rights, suggests that almost four years on Mbeki the manager’s delivery times are slowing down. While the detail of its critique has been covered, the reason for the malaise poses challenges for Mbeki.
In effect, the intergovernmental system is not yet functioning effectively. The report is peppered with evidence of the provincial and local government levels holding up the development works. Underspending is blamed by national departments on the pro-vinces, which in turn pin the blame on “insufficient capacity” at municipal level. “Insufficient capacity” is shorthand for a lack of trained managers or for managers who can’t do their jobs.
The solutions are politically difficult and economically costly. Poorly run provinces may require central administration, but this is difficult as the Eastern Cape has shown. Local government needs to be better funded; and managers may require incentives to attract them away from the metropoles to the dorpies where need is greatest — both costly steps in a time of fiscal restraint.
The report reveals that as far as the extension of housing, health care, land, water and food are concerned, development at scale is severely constrained. “Poor implementation, corruption and lack of capacity continue to affect the land reform process,” it finds. The government has committed itself to completing land reform in 13 years. Only half the eligible poor get the free water service promised more than two years ago; free electricity is still in the planning stages.
And on housing, the report says that “it is regrettable to note that despite the landmark decision of the Constitutional Court in the ‘Grootboom’ case, millions of people are still living in peril and the measures instituted cannot be considered to be comprehensive as they neglect significant members of society”.
If Mbeki was a manager, he might lose his performance bonus unless tough decisions are taken.