Consequence management matters

WE ARE hearing more and more about the concept of consequence management. In essence the term really means punishing those who have done wrong. Unfortunately, we keep hearing how connected individuals in our society get away with all sorts of wrongdoing.

- MICHAEL BAGRAIM

Criminals who are politically placed and wealthy very seldom get punished for breaking the law. Highly placed politicians appear to get away with everything. When this happens which seems to be more prevalent nowadays, it sends a message out to the public that you can “almost get away with murder”. The optics of this disastrous situation is not good and indeed is sending a word of encouragement to all those who are contemplating breaking the law.

One only needs to look at the recommendations of the Zondo Commission. The non-action taken by the authorities sends a horrible message out to everyone in South Africa and indeed to the world. You often hear the refrain from the public that the wealthy seem to get away with everything.

I have been dealing with consequence management in the labour field for many years and firmly believe that we have the systems in South Africa to ensure that we have proper parameters and structures in place through our legislation. Both employees and civil servants should be facing proper consequence management for all manner of wrongdoing.