The ANC government has more people on the state payroll than the US, which has a population six times that of South Africa, and a gross domestic product (GDP) some 45 times larger. There are now 3.03 million South African “civil servants” against the 2.79 million at the federal level in America. “And our African national Congress (ANC) leadership piles them on, adding 44,000 in the first quarter alone. This, while unemployment in the private sector rose,” the Business Times continued. “Public service costs in South Africa are proportionately among the highest in the world at about 12% of GDP. Mike Schussler of economics.co.za said he believed it was closer to 14%, taking state-owned enterprises such as Eskom into account.” Of the total labour force, no less than 22.6% are public servants. The World Bank estimates that most civilian government employment accounts on average for about 11% of total employment. “And you can bet your bottom dollar that the bulk of those 3.03-million civil servants who make up 22.6% of our workforce will back to the hilt a ruling party that has created for them the largest gravy train ever seen in Africa. “Dr Corné Mulder, chief whip of the FF+, told Parliament earlier this year that South Africa has 34 ministers, 33 deputy ministers, 159 directors-general, 642 deputy directors-general, 2,501 chief directors and 7,782 directors. This data was supplied by Minister of Public Service and Administration Lindiwe Sisulu. “This implies that every minister on average has 4.67 directors-general, 19 deputy directors-general, 74 chief directors and 229 directors to assist them in their duties. “Mulder told parliament that 40 years ago there were 18 ministers, six deputy ministers and 18 directors-general. Obviously there has been substantial population and economic growth over that period, necessitating a larger civil service to serve an integrated society, millions of whose members had previously experienced scant benefits from the government. But the rate of increase in our public service is unsustainable. If not curbed, it must lead to swingeing increases of a tax burden already weighing heavily on ordinary South Africans. “In addition, corruption has been rampant, devouring R30bn a year by some estimates. Then there is the employment of consultants, many in corrupt arrangements, which has cost taxpayers more than R100bn and counting. “What we have seen is not a steady, planned expansion to serve the people’s needs but an orgy of jobs for pals, obscene salaries, expensive cars, lavish travel and extravagant bonuses,” the Business Times concluded.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:45:21 +0000
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