TimesLive writes that politicians have failed to ensure that those who are able to do the job are appointed to the boards and senior positions at state-owned enterprises (SOEs) — with devastating consequences.

This is according to part 2 of the state capture commission's findings, which was handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday. Part 2, volume 2, deals specifically with Denel, but says failures relating to the state-owned arms manufacturer were apparent at other SOEs. The report says these failures resulted in near — and sometimes full — collapse of SOEs and repeated bailouts. In the case of Denel, commission chair acting chief justice Raymond Zondo said it went from “highly regarded internationally” to an empty shell in record time. The appointment of boards and CEOs of SOEs was “a matter of serious concern” — and the executive "often failed to appoint the right kind of people [in] these positions”, Zondo found. “It is clear that the appointment of members of boards of directors of SOEs and senior executives, such as CEOs and CFOs, can no longer be left solely in the hands of politicians, because in the main they have failed to give these SOEs members of boards and CEOs and CFOs of integrity and who have what it takes to lead these institutions successfully. They are going down one by one and, often, they depend on bailouts,” Zondo wrote. He recommended that an independent body be established to identify, select and recruit “the right kind of people” to lead these boards and organisations.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Matthew Savides at TimesLive

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