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On the final day for the public to submit comments on the National State Enterprises Bill, the DA encourages all South Africans to make their voices heard. Any decisions made on the governance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) should reflect the interests of all citizens, not just the interests of one political party; public engagement is the only way to achieve this.

The DA will not support the centralised model proposed in the Bill, which seeks to entrust control of SOEs to an unwieldy holding company. We are therefore in favour of leaving the existing decentralised framework in place whereby SOEs remain under the oversight of their respective ministries, ensuring greater accountability and sector-specific governance.

We also acknowledge the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in making SOEs more efficient and financially sustainable. The partnerships will be worth exploring to surmount the challenges facing our state-owned institutions and making them operate in the public interest.

Furthermore, the government must carefully examine which SOEs are strategic and which must be considered for unbundling or private sector entry, reducing the burden on taxpayers and improving overall performance.

We encourage every concerned citizen, expert, and stakeholder to submit their comments before the end of the day today. You can email your feedback to Ms. Mandy Balie at nsebill@parliament.gov.za. If you wish to make an oral presentation before the Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, please express your interest via the same contact details.

Today is the final opportunity to ensure your input is considered. Make your voice heard and help shape the future of our state-owned enterprises.

Issued by Darren Bergman MP - DA Spokesperson on Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation