Cadre deployment no longer required
In 1994, when the ANC came to power, there was a definite problem in that most (if not all) senior managers in public sector departments were white, and many were antagonistic to the new regime.
To fix this, the ANC took the approach of cadre deployment, which had been remarkably effective in installing public service managers that were more sympathetic to the ideals of the government of the day, and more representative of SA's population.
However, the Ethics Institute's Kris Dobie says while cadre deployment was effective at solving the problem of its day, it is not the correct tool with which to address the challenges of today.
In his column on the News24 site, Dobie says the politicisation of local government makes it difficult for people to live their values.
‘And the one thing that causes the politicisation of local government is cadre deployment.’
True cadre deployment, he says, will always seek the best person for the job: someone who has the most competence, but with the understanding that they can work with the policies of the government of the day.
However, cadre deployment will never be implemented purely in its true ideological guise.
‘In reality, the line between cadre deployment and patronage politics disappears quickly, and people stop being deployed to address racial and ideological divides, and start being deployed to promote personal and factional agendas.’
Cadre deployment, he adds, is a real cause of corruption and plays a significant part in capture at the local, provincial and national levels.
In postulating a solution, Dobie says the National Development Plan has made some exceptionally good recommendations, as has the Professionalisation Framework for the Public Service – adding the only thing that is still required is implementation.
‘We should stop deployment practices and move towards a professional public service. If politicians are committed to solving the problem, they will implement the solution. That is, of course, if we assume that the problems that politicians want to solve are South African problems and not party-political problems.’
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
