Two critical areas of concern presently affect the daily lives of all South Africans.
They are corruption and unemployment.
All the associated perils of poverty, crime, racialism and distrust would diminish to acceptable levels in a diverse society such as South Africa should just these two elements be successfully addressed.
My initiative in addressing these concerns would be :
- Government to offer legal incentives to individuals previously / presently involved in corrupt, fraudulent or wasteful expenditure to avoid long term jail sentences for criminal offences. Persons who acknowledge and confess within three months their roles in the above offences and repatriate applicable sums to Treasury timeously will be given lenient sentences (eg. house arrest) based on the extent and value of the offence - 1 year for minor, 3 years for intermediate and 5 years for major amounts, subject to illegal amounts recovered.
All non-conformants who do not take up this offer will face the full extent of the law with maximum penalties / jail time applicable.
New legislation to be enacted whereby individuals at ministerial and PBO Management levels are involved in any future mishandling of public money receive a minimum 15 years imprisonment .
- All existing informal settlement areas to receive bricks and mortar structures for the express establishment of pre-school classrooms, ablutions, etc. for children ages 1 year to 6 years. The size and number of structures will be determined by the extent of the settlement / number of pre-schoolers per township. Teachers to be sourced from graduating individuals and new teachers incentivised through financial assistance for their training years.
Training centres for key infrastructural development industries to also be established in these settlement areas ( where joblessness is at it’s worst ) to accommodate young school leaders for specialised training in all the practical skills necessary for a growing economy construction hospitality, technology, mechanical to name just a few.
Appropriate certificates awarded upon successful completion of various courses. Both these initiatives to provide daily meals / nourishment for participants.
- The funds required to roll out these initiatives to flow from recovered corruption takings and / or companies who will replace existing BEE compliance with company funded education that benefits the masses and NOT a few individuals who collect massive dividends and salaries without adding value to the workplace / economy.
It has been calculated by renowned economists that the South African Economy has forfeited around R500 billion over the past 9 YEARS through corruption and wastage. Imagine if that money was utilised correctly in the above scenarios. Every disadvantaged South African would have free eduction, free housing and free medical AND the economy would be growing at 3% per annum with a rainbow in front of us instead of dark storm clouds.
Robert E Taylor
East London
