**EMPTY PROMISES: ** As President Ramaphosa continues to wield the number 10 000 as a distraction from real issues, author argues that the people of South Africa seek honesty and integrity in leadership amidst a barrage of unfulfilled promises and political tactics.
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President Ramaphosa seems fixated on the number 10 000. It has become the go-to rhetorical device to appease the impatient, hungry masses.
At least on three occasions this year alone, Mr Ramaphosa has pulled the mythical figure as a promise to the people of South Africa. What is clear is that he has no commitment to realise the promise that only catches headlines in his favour. This number has become a shameless politicking device for the president.
During his State of the Nation Address, Mr Ramaphosa first promised to hire 10 000 agricultural extension officers. This brought hope to the thousands of agricultural graduates who are languishing at home, afflicted by hunger and despair. Six months later, there is only silence. The last time we heard anything was the employment of fewer than 300 agricultural graduate interns.
Faced with the 30 June deadline set by the Mabahambe call from civil society organisations such as March and March, Ramaphosa put his hand in his bag of magic and pulled out another 10 000 labour inspectors, supposedly dedicated to enforcing the immigration laws of the country. No further updates have been heard after the announcement. Ramaphosa deals with crisis moments with empty promises.
Looking at the empty, tired African National Congress election manifesto, Mr Ramaphosa reached for his go-to rhetorical device and now promises the youth 10 000 jobs as internships in local government.
This cruel toying with the poor signifies the short-termism of Ramaphosa's politics. Each time he is confronted with a crisis, to push the matter out of the way, he just pulls out the 10 000 figure. No plan, no time frames, no budget, and it seems he doesn't care. So long as the fire is quelled for that moment, fine and good.
This leadership style shows two things in the main. Firstly, indifference to the suffering masses; secondly, pure disrespect. Ramaphosa is no fool; he knows what he is doing, and he is banking on the people's patience and perennial hope against hope. He knows the people are desperate and likely to buy his misleading promises.
What must happen now is that opposition parties and parliamentarians who respect the people should demand Ramaphosa produce a plan and budget for the 30 000 jobs he has publicly promised the people of South Africa. The President must not be allowed to normalise misleading the nation. If Mr Ramaphosa cannot tell the truth about his own publicly made promises, what more about accusations of criminality against himself, as in the Phala Phala saga?
A big question must hang at the doors of the Union Buildings: where are the thirty thousand jobs, Mr Ramaphosa?
Andile Mngxitama is a Member of Parliament and co-author of The Gupta Family versus the Stellenbosch Mafia.
