The Gauteng government is run by people who think they are in opposition, judging by the number of gimmicks and tricks used to attract publicity. It starts with premier Panyaza Lesufi, who has a desperate need to be seen every day.
This week, he launched the “Adopt and Protect a Robot” campaign, meant to save traffic lights from theft and vandalism. This is a big project if you live in an event-less place like Ecuador or Outa Mongolia. But this is Gauteng, the engine of South Africa. Our premier — he could be president if Gauteng were a country — says the project is meant to persuade businesses to look after traffic lights.
“The ‘Adopt and Protect a Robot’ campaign aims to forge a dynamic service delivery-oriented partnership between government, the private sector, and local communities in the fight against traffic congestion, vandalisation of road infrastructure, and lawlessness,” said Lesufi.
Business is already doing much of what the government should be doing. In addition, residents and citizens already pay for private healthcare, private schools, and private security, all because of failing public services.
Gauteng finance MEC Lebohang Maile endorsed a private sector-led plan to build an airport in Sedibeng this week. You would be forgiven if you didn’t know where Sedibeng is. It’s a one-robot district municipality that includes Midvaal, Emfuleni, and Lesedi.
Who would want to fly there regularly and from where?
Lesufi is on a hiding to nothing. As premier, he made his own life difficult by campaigning for the end of tolls on the province’s highways. The e-tolls were scrapped when the Treasury agreed in 2023 that the national and provincial governments would contribute 70% and 30% respectively to settle debt acquired when Gauteng freeways were extended to cope with congestion. The debt was supposed to have been settled via the user-pays principle.
Lesufi was happy to lead the campaign for the scrapping of e-tolls as it would support the ANC’s campaign for the 2024 elections. Then came May 29, and voters did not care if the tolls were on or not. They ensured the ANC lost its majority in the richest province, giving Lesufi’s party a 34% share of the votes.
In terms of the deal with the Treasury, Gauteng will fork out R3.2bn a year over the next five years and also take responsibility for maintaining the 201km freeway network. Losing that much money every year and that much of the voter share has proven to be one of the most expensive outcomes of populism. It was always a futile ploy. As finance MEC, Maile has to look around every year and live with less due to his boss’s populism and short-sightedness.
Provincial governments need more media and civic society scrutiny, yet they, with local government, receive more than half of the national revenue. The public gets very little return from the provincial layer, which has survived because our politicians use it as a lever for patronage.
Provincial governments need more media and civic society scrutiny, yet they, with local government, receive more than half of the national revenue
Both the DA and the ANC (jointly, they command 62% of the votes) have no enthusiasm for doing away with provinces, as the bulk of the decision-makers in our political system — the politicians – depend on legislatures for their jobs. The provincial layer hands back several billions to the national government annually as a sign of state incapacity.
Gauteng for example, is in dire need of investment in public health, yet continues to demonstrate incapacity when it comes to spending. This is different from the real problem of spending quality and poor audit outcomes.
There is no sign that the first citizen in Gauteng is concerned about the administrative failings. Instead, he looks around for opportunities to be seen every damn day, from hugging robots to many other public relations events of no value. Not even he benefits from the visibility campaign, as it attracts more ridicule than real engagement. His publicity hunger needs to be associated with work of value and sensible statements if it is to boost his political ambitions.
As ineffectual as he is, Lesufi cannot be written off. He is among the important politicians in the short to medium term. It is a pity power is wasted on him, as he does not know what to do with it. He is in charge of one of Africa’s superhubs, whose GDP is bigger than rising stars like Kenya, for crying out loud. What better platform to launch your presidential campaign?
• Mkokeli is lead partner at public affairs consultancy Mkokeli Advisory.
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