Unenviable job awaits Sogoni

NEW Eastern Cape premier Mbulelo Sogoni would be justified in wondering what he had done to deserve being given the job, arguably the most challenging premiership in the country.

But, like his three predecessors, Sogoni has come out saying all the right things, vowing to focus firmly on rectifying the chaos in education, health and housing. We wish him the best of luck.

That said, we do not doubt his sincerity and applaud his apparent determination to confront the problems which have made the Eastern Cape the laughing stock of South Africa.

Unfortunately, in Bhisho he inherits a public sector administration which has never functioned properly. One with an ingrained culture of inefficiency, where incompetence is ingrained and often rewarded. The pursuit of self-enrichment too, has crippled many efforts to make life better for those who live in this vast province.

To be able to make any meaningful changes to areas such as health, education and housing Sogoni will need to surround himself with dedicated people who realise they are not there to win popularity contests, or serve the needs of a particular faction of the ANC.

He needs people who will not accept inferior performance by public servants and who will be prepared to wield the big stick when necessary.

To date this has not happened. Since the time of Raymond Mhlaba, the province‘s genial and respected first premier, there has been a clear reluctance to crack down on those unwilling or incapable of performing the duties for which they have been paid. Makhenkesi Stofile tried as did Sogoni‘s immediate predecessor Nosimo Balindlela.

Well-intentioned MECs and premiers have been derailed by a lethargic, unmotivated workforce who have had no reason to harbour job security fears even when they have not performed their jobs efficiently.

We fear Sogoni faces a similar obstacle. So the question has to be whether he be able to make a difference in the nine months he has in office until the next election?

While we would like to think otherwise, we suspect little will change in Bhisho. Personal agendas and loyalty to various cliques in the ANC will continue to be the priorities in Bhisho‘s corridors of power, not the needs of the people who expected so much, but have received so little.

Rape: cops need training

THE horrific rape ordeal suffered by the young woman whose story is highlighted on our front page must offend and outrage every right-minded person.

However, her subsequent treatment at the hands of the police – who should have been concerned for her welfare, as well as with apprehending the perpetrators of this heinous deed – is equally shocking.

What emerges from this story is the urgent need for more policemen and women to be trained in how to deal quite specifically with those who have been raped.

The statistics tell us that the incidence of rape in South Africa is alarmingly high. It follows then that the police force in this country needs to be prepared to deal with large numbers of victims of rape, especially since the gathering of evidence soon after the crime is crucial to effective prosecution.

There are specific procedures to be followed when a rape is reported, procedures that require physical evidence being taken from the person who has just been violated.

This is crucial in securing a conviction once the suspect has been arrested.

Police officers, then, have to know these procedures. They should also ensure that statements and evidence are facilitated as quickly as possible to reduce the trauma.

Opinion