This institutional atrophy is a consequence of political leadership that lacks both vision and accountability. Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has presided over a department that is not only failing its mandate but actively undermining the integrity of democratic oversight.
The recent controversy surrounding the attempted appointment of a compromised candidate as the small business ombud illustrates the depth of dysfunction. The ombud, by law, is meant to be an independent mechanism that safeguards small business interests and investigates unfair practices, including procurement irregularities and abuse by large corporations.
Instead, the process was marred by procedural violations, conflicts of interest and a blatant attempt to subvert transparency for political gain.
The chairperson of the parliamentary committee on small business development attempted to include an alternate member in the candidate interviews, an illegal move under parliamentary rules. Interviews promised to the public were withheld under flimsy excuses. Manipulated scoring criteria were used to elevate a politically favoured candidate with a tainted past. These are part of a broader culture of impunity that the minister has done nothing to curb.
On multiple occasions, including when parliament was due to hear from a small business defrauded by the Small Enterprise Finance Agency, the minister and her deputy absented themselves from accountability, offering no credible justification. The chairperson shut down questioning. Such deflections betray the purpose of parliamentary oversight.
In a functional democracy, such consistent dereliction of duty would render a minister’s position untenable. And yet, Ndabeni-Abrahams remains protected in office. Her tenure has yielded no serious reform, no credible strategic renewal, and no evidence of responsiveness to the crisis confronting our youth.
What is required now is a change in philosophy. SA needs a youth-obsessed minister. Ideally, a leader who is committed to intergenerational justice and understands the language, pace and ambition of youth-led innovation.
This minister must view the entrepreneurial energy of SA’s young people not as a policy problem to be managed, but as the country’s most important economic asset.
A youth-obsessed minister would:
- Champion start-up ecosystems;
- Fight to modernise funding models and remove bureaucratic barriers;
- Advance digital innovation and fintech inclusion;
- Co-create with young entrepreneurs;
- Ensure transparency in procurement and funding decisions, and;
- Rebuild the department of small business development into a fast-moving, future-facing institution.
If we fail to make this shift, we will condemn yet another generation to frustration and exclusion, perpetuating a vicious cycle of unemployment, hopelessness and disillusionment with the idea of democracy.
Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster MP is the deputy leader of Bosa