Indecision holds SA back – Ben Turok

15/04/2014 Durban Ben Turok member of the Parliament launching his book. PICTURE: SIBUSISO NDLOVU

15/04/2014 Durban Ben Turok member of the Parliament launching his book. PICTURE: SIBUSISO NDLOVU

Published Apr 24, 2014

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Cape Town - Sharing his experience in Parliament for over 20 years, Ben Turok on Wednesday night gave his account of what South Africa needed to do to move forward.

Speaking at a discussion about his new book, With My Head above the Parapet – An insider Account of the ANC in Power, Turok, who chaired Parliament’s ethics committee, admitted indecision and unresponsiveness by the ruling party were among reasons South Africa remained one of the most unequal societies in Africa.

“Unfortunately, South Africans still have a warped view of what goes on in Parliament. We (South Africa), have achieved a great deal. But we need a responsible government that cares about people and ignores luxury,” Turok said.

What was needed to take South Africa forward was not only better planning by the government, but, according to Turok, also execution of those plans. Turok outlines and discusses in-depth six main themes in his book: the constitution, Parliament, leadership selection process, the economy, ethics, and Africa.

Turok also said he was proud of the strides South Africa had made, post-apartheid. “There is no way Parliament will ever go back to the way it was in 1994. I want to celebrate the irreversibility and the fact that I will never again live in a “white-man’s land, exclusively”, Turok said.

Western Cape High Court Justice Siraj Desai, discussant, said while Turok’s books were a must-read, he criticised Turok’s failure to address the issue of labour broking.

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Cape Times

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