Bongani Baloyi’s infant political party has demanded that Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan be fired from his cushy position.
Xiluva said in a statement on Thursday that Gordhan should be axed over the departure of several top executives at Eskom and Transnet.
Both state-owned entities (SOEs) saw a spate of resignations of executives and board members, who left in droves in a short space of time in October.
Baloyi said Gordhan should take responsibility for the departures of Transnet leadership, including the resignation of Eskom board chairperson, Mpho Makwana, which came amid corruption allegations and concerns about the management of the companies.
“Pravin’s assertion that the actions taken are aimed at addressing misconduct and enhancing governance is nonsense,” Baloyi said.
“He has been ineffective in addressing challenges at various state-owned enterprises, and the auditor-general’s scathing report on the Department of Public Enterprises and its entities’ financial performance should have led President [Cyril] Ramaphosa to recall him.”
He said the auditor-general had identified several failures in the country’s oversight of state-owned companies, including insufficient turnaround plans, unfilled vacancies, and unspent budgets.
The SAA transaction, he added, was also criticised in the report, which highlighted problematic due diligence on preferred vendors.
The findings underscore long-standing issues of corruption and mismanagement in the country’s public sector, which have contributed to its struggling economy, he said.
Baloyi said to address these challenges, robust leadership, effective improvement plans, and greater transparency and accountability are needed.
“Additionally, it requires leadership that is inclusive, inspiring, and adaptable. Inspiring leadership motivates and empowers others to work towards a common purpose.
“Adaptable leadership is able to navigate and respond to changing circumstances and challenges, and accountable leadership takes responsibility for their actions and decisions, and holds themselves and others accountable.”
The former mayor of Midvaal local municipality in Gauteng is known for holding a forte for running a clean municipality in the mid-south of Gauteng while he was a member of the DA.
He dumped the DA in 2022 to join Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA.
However, his stay with the party never lasted long, as he resigned as Gauteng leader of the organisation to form Xiluva.
The office of Gordhan had not responded to questions sent to him at the time of publishing.
Gordhan’s comment will be included when it is received.
