EDNA MOLEWA: ‘Report cards’ on the Cabinet are no substitute for unbiased evaluation
The release of Cabinet "report cards" by sections of the media this time of year are symptomatic of the age of the headline — where government performance is measured not in terms of real metrics and outputs, but by how many times one or another Cabinet minister has appeared on the front pages, for better or worse. These report cards are highly subjective, and are influenced by the author’s own prejudices and preferences for an individual. They are divisive and damaging to the spirit of co-operative governance, because governments are not run by Cabinet ministers, but as a collective. That the likeability (or otherwise) of an individual can be used as a yardstick for the performance of an entire government department is the result of, amongst others the double-edged sword that is social media. Social media has been a boon in that it has allowed the government to connect directly with its constituents; it has also democratised the previously monopolised media space, and most importan...
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