Let's move Parly far away
2009-10-26 08:24
There is no question that putting Parliament and government in the same place would save a vast amount of money.
And while they're at it, why don't they just move the whole bangshoot combination away from Pretoria or Cape Town and stick it somewhere between Pofadder and Upington.
Ministers could then all belt around in their obscenely expensive cars surrounded by blue light convoys without throwing entire socio-economic megastructures into complete disarray.
Seriously though, it has always been an exorbitant luxury having Parliament sitting in Cape Town and Government in Pretoria. The money wasted on this insane system in the past could easily have provided housing and a BMW 750i complete with sports pack and waterborne sewage, to every single man, woman and child in South Africa a few times over.
Of course, the residents of Cape Town and Pretoria are going to scream blue murder if there is any hint that the new combined seat of Parliament and government will be moved away from their cities. Sure, some businesses will lose out but generally speaking, I can't help thinking that the benefits in terms of foreign investment, tourism and quality of life would probably be greater if one could advertise the fact that a city was NOT the seat of Parliament of government.
Frankly, I am delighted that at least government is thinking about doing something to stop this unnecessary excess.
And here's hoping that they start thinking of other ways of saving money but cutting down on things that really don't warrant the massive misguided investments we are seeing today.
Like forcing the football authorities to stop looking for miracles in Brazil and just hire someone local like Lucas Radebe or Clive Barker at half the price and twice the IQ of those imported has-beens.
And talking about saving money, I have to mention those ministerial cars again in the context of government not understanding what the public seems to be so angry about.
Everyone accepts, I am sure, that buying a BMW 750i complete with every conceivable gimmick known to mankind, is not breaking parliamentary rules nor is it immoral, unethical or criminal.
What it is doing is sending out the message from Cabinet that ministers do not give a stuff about the fact that millions of South Africans are starving, homeless and dying from lack of medical attention.
I reckon all the average Joe is saying to government is; "please just give us one tiny little hint that all those election promises you made a few months ago were actually serious."
Downgrading a car is probably the best way of showing that one cares, during these very troubled economic times.
Agreeing to let Eskom jack up the electricity prices by 45% a year and then going out and buying a flashy Beemer does not tend to send out any kind of positive message other than; "now that we are in power we do not give a toss about poor people".
Unfortunately, this sort of suggestion will almost certainly fall on deaf ears because the world over, the prize for being elected to political office is being able to indulge in excesses such as flashy cars, five star hotels, the best restaurants, first class air travel and blue light convoys.
But at least, the consolidation of Parliament and government would be a start.
That is if they are serious and not just throwing the idea out into the public domain with the hope that the ensuing arguments will distract attention away from all those flashy cars.
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