What If ....

What if the moon is made of green cheese? What if Jacob Zuma is really being unjustly pursued over the arms deal? What if Helen Zille is really a white supremacist?

What If allows us to explore possibilities and help us make choices between those possibilities. What If gives us freedom to explore. Exploring through What If can somesometimes help us better understand What Is. So I choose to ask What If in some different contexts to explore various things and maybe identify some ways we can make positive differences in our beloved South Africa.

So I will start exploring a What If right now ...

What if our government leadership were to fall under a different remunuration model? What if a significant portion of their total salary package was payable only on achievement of all of a set certain objectives, measurements, KPAs?

I know there is discussion on the effectiveness or otherwise of using KPAs. Let's for the purposes of this What If assume that KPAs are viable and take this What If further.

What if everyone holding a significant position in government was to receive a significant portion, say at least half their total salary package only on achieving all of their KPAs? Let them receive half their total salary package for continuing business as normal, simply for pitching up at work. Now I am sure there are some that would find even that challenging. We need only think of Winnie's woeful parliamentary attendance record.

I am suggesting that from the president down through cabinet ministers, members of parliament, through directors general, provincial premieres, mayors, city managers, heads of departments, and so on be assigned no more than five measurableKPAs.

Let us start witht he president. As the head of government what could be measured that would have a positive impact on the state of our nation.

 Hmmmmm ....

I would start with holding the president responsible for ensuring that every government department and every province obtains a clean audit every year. This means that if just one department fails to get a clean audit Jake loses half of his total remuneration package. Hands up anyone who thinks that won't have a positive impact on South Africa.

That's a totally objective, measurable and non-political objective. I can't imagine anyone in their right mind not wanting financial accountability in government.

Take a moment and imagine in your mind's eye Jake hassling and harrassing his cabinet ministers to ensure that every cent is accounted for. What a pleasure .... Then he'd be an action man.