Blind spot conceals a few million jobs

Foreign investment statistics released this week paint a particularly bleak picture of SA as an investment destination.

On top of that, fewer and fewer South Africans have a job. The number of jobless is rising each quarter, with most of the jobs being lost in manufacturing and mining.

The mining industry is now under pressure to give pay increases well above inflation, meaning it will be reluctant to employ more people - not only because of the increases, but because of the declining investment in the local economy.

All of these factors indicate that it will be a miracle if millions of new jobs are created in SA over the next few years, as government says it will.

The government has a blind spot in addressing these issues. I am not advocating abusive labour practices, but unless the government comes to the party and makes concessions to the few companies still willing to invest in SA, the trend of job losses will continue - even though one might think it cannot get worse.

Big shots working like underlings

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma will personally oversee infrastructure development, according to reports.

Deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe will personally look after job creation, and finance minister Pravin Gordhan, together with Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus, will look into the regulation of foreign investment.

This highlights a problem: there should be no need for them to get personally involved. They all, apparently, have jobs already.

If SA had adequate legislation and regulation, enforced and accepted, government would have structures in place to ensure that things got done. Leaders would not need to be personally involved.

They have to step in because SA is winging it on important aspects of the economy.

Heavy toll for Road Accident Fund

JACOB Modise's sudden departure from the Road Accident Fund leaves nagging questions unanswered.

The fund is beset by financial problems. It has claims of R1-billion a month, more than R40-billion of liabilities, hundreds of thousands of claims waiting to be processed, and has already received a government bail-out.

There has been no information on the state in which Modise left the fund, but you can be sure it is not in perfect health. Watch out for the annual report, when a hefty severance package will, no doubt, be mentioned - but little about why he went.

Top public servant: the ultimate job

IN my next life, I want to work for government or a parastatal.

I don't just want to work there, I want to be suspended from my job on full pay for as long as possible. This is not difficult; by all accounts, many people are in this position.

The wheels of government, when it comes to holding people to account, turn very slowly.

If I'm clever, it could take years before numerous related departments go through "due process" to sort me out.

I would then get my position back and be in a good position to claim additional amounts for benefits I did not receive while suspended on full pay.

With any luck, they'll then give me a full and final payment to see the back of me.

• kleinm@sundaytimes.co.za