Surprisingly there seems to be a lot of news surrounding the sacking/ non-sacking of two of the country’s Premiers, Ibrahim Rasool and Nosimo Balindlela. Rasool and Balindlela are rumoured to have been fired out of their posts by the ANC’s NEC over the weekend, but no official word has come out yet. The two run Western Cape and Eastern Cape respectively. These provinces are among the bunch that usual score low marks either on delivery issues or on the fact that an ANC government isn’t in sole power there. There are one or two others in these categories, Free State and Mpumalanga come to mind.
What surprised me on this occasion was, firstly the reaction of DA leader Helen Zille who, only two weeks ago was lambasting Rasool for not taking active steps in helping people affected by the recent floods of the Cape, forcing the city of Cape Town to stretch its own resources. She is now saying Rasool should fight the ANC legally because he has a case against such a firing, if there is one. This week a foe, next week a friend. Oh, what do we have in Zille? Rasool is an ANC man and my feeling is that he will not go this route at all, either out of pure loyalty to the party or for fear of being retaliated against at a later stage. Remember, we are only months away from the 2009 elections and all the soldiers are positioning themselves for higher positions in government. Rasool will not be a fool and fight his bosses when they ask him to step aside. Neither will Balindlela for that matter. Both would have watched Dr Alan Boesak and learnt from him.
As for being “Mbeki supporters” as it has been reported, this is neither here nor there because the ANC gave the President the powers to hire Premiers at his whim. Therefore by extension, all the Premiers currently working in the country, are Mbeki’s people, so to speak. The ANC later lived to deeply regret this decision bestowed upon its former president. What has not been said is whether Jacob Zuma will also have the same powers or not. And yes, I am assuming Zuma will be the next President of Mzansi. Let’s not for one second, be hoodwinked by the impending trial and all that surrounds it; the man is coming into power come April 2009.
Major reshuffles are coming too and we will see these prominently in parliament, but mostly in the public figures that are the cabinet ministers. It goes without saying that Mrs Mlambo-Nguka will not be in the same position by this time next year for one. Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang and Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Letoka are also on this list. I am told too by those who know best that more than half the current crop will not be returning, willingly or otherwise. A few the public will not miss, but the biggest question is about Trevor Manuel at Treasury, for he is now a darling in the world of finance. People who have lots of money care only about this guy and these folks often have the loudest voices. His partner Maria Ramos is probably not renewing her contract at Transnet towards the end of the year so it could be a fresh new start for both of them, somewhere.
A Premier reshuffle is nothing new, especially in this country. Noise cannot be made when this is done, but I suppose questions can be raised if it is done before a Premier’s term in office has expired. Why not wait until the elections? The only reason I could think of is that the ANC is now very nervous about the Western Cape, having won it by the narrowest of margins last time and still not ruling Cape Town itself. They therefore probably feel Rasool is not the man to win them these two constituencies. So who is?
19 July 2008
21 June 2008
Kabelo still on drugs? I never said that!
Three weeks ago a story appeared in the Sunday World about Kabelo, the kwaito/ Comrades star. Y’all will recall how he came out of the narcotics closet and declared himself messenger of JC and was duly anointed pastor at his church. Well the story, if you happen not to read the Sunday World, was about how his friend, fellow musician Gurash, had admitted to the paper that Kabz was a continuous supplier and consumer of these illegal substances from which we all believed he had abdicated. Gurash, the only source, was quoted extensively in this article. The kwaito trio Blackjack was formed when Gurash, a rapper with one CD under his belt, got together with now-Generations-actor Howza and Kabelo. The following Monday both Gurash and Kabelo appeared on The Avenue show on METRO FM as a means of clearing the air. Said reporter was also invited to partake but apparently didn’t pick up his phone when the calling eventually came.
Basically Gurash denied ever making such claims against Kabz, saying he spoke to the esteemed tabloid yes, but it was all about his upcoming solo CD. Nothing else. The Kabelo story was never even discussed. My problem landed right there and then. In 1908 all a reporter relied upon was his/her notebook and memory in telling the story as it really was. In 2008 reporters have dictaphones, cell phones that can record stuff, video cameras, all sorts of other recording devices. In 2008 you really cannot be misquoted, unless a problem arose during the sub-editing process. Even then the misquote would be minimal, a misspelt word or a wrong figure or something. Not the entire story!
Which genius artist manager lets his artist run off into the wilderness without advising him of such technologies? Two years ago I was privileged to sit down for two odd hours with Hugh Masekela for a one-on-one session. I brought along my dictaphone, as usual. He wanted to know why. I simply said “because you and I cannot trust each other to remember exactly what will be said here today”. The artist can make the excuse that it was a phone interview and therefore may have not been recorded on his side. If you are worth the story, you are certainly worth the journalist travelling to meet up with you somewhere, with his recording device. Mzansi tabloids are growing this reputation of creating stories and quoting sources who claim never to have been interviewed. The easiest, cheapest way out of this is to record the entire conversation, from both sides if possible. That way memories cannot be accused of faltering and lawsuits can be avoided.
Basically Gurash denied ever making such claims against Kabz, saying he spoke to the esteemed tabloid yes, but it was all about his upcoming solo CD. Nothing else. The Kabelo story was never even discussed. My problem landed right there and then. In 1908 all a reporter relied upon was his/her notebook and memory in telling the story as it really was. In 2008 reporters have dictaphones, cell phones that can record stuff, video cameras, all sorts of other recording devices. In 2008 you really cannot be misquoted, unless a problem arose during the sub-editing process. Even then the misquote would be minimal, a misspelt word or a wrong figure or something. Not the entire story!
Which genius artist manager lets his artist run off into the wilderness without advising him of such technologies? Two years ago I was privileged to sit down for two odd hours with Hugh Masekela for a one-on-one session. I brought along my dictaphone, as usual. He wanted to know why. I simply said “because you and I cannot trust each other to remember exactly what will be said here today”. The artist can make the excuse that it was a phone interview and therefore may have not been recorded on his side. If you are worth the story, you are certainly worth the journalist travelling to meet up with you somewhere, with his recording device. Mzansi tabloids are growing this reputation of creating stories and quoting sources who claim never to have been interviewed. The easiest, cheapest way out of this is to record the entire conversation, from both sides if possible. That way memories cannot be accused of faltering and lawsuits can be avoided.
Here blackie, have some BEE leftovers
Selling a 10% stake? Are you kidding me? Is that all? That is all I’m afraid. Vodacom is selling shares worth R7.5 billion to a large group of people, including its staff and others who are eligible to buy. This is a BEE transaction. This airtime company has a market value of over R75 billion, meaning that over R67 billion will still remain in hands other than those deemed to be BEE. Foreigners will make up the bulk of this – Vodafone being the largest of these – and others. The folk who actually keep the company in business by buying and using its airtime as well as its overpriced cell phone contracts will only get away with a maximum of R7.5 billion worth of Vodacom. Worse still, staff, the actual engine powering the Voda train are only allowed up to R1.87 billion of shares. Yoh! You must be joking for real.
Sasol, after being spanked on the wrist by Brian Molefe, the biggest single investor in the country, for not taking BEE and AA seriously, started scratching around for credible black faces to appear on its behalf at functions etc. Some were found, they came, some left. Thereafter a BEE share offer was made to the public and branded the biggest ever in the history of BEE. This part piqued my interest. So I picked up a sample prospectus of the offer and read it for myself. Sure enough the numbers were HUGE. We are talking something worth R30 billion. Big stuff. Until you scratch a little beneath the proverbial surface.
Firstly the list of advisors to the transaction – law firms, accounting firms, bankers etc – are all not exactly BEE themselves. So these folks will reap hundreds of millions for facilitating things even before the deal is sealed. Then I see there’s also a limit to how many shares are available. Worse, the shares do not constitute a direct ownership in Sasol, rather a vehicle towards direct ownership. It’s like buying into land on which a Chicken Licken fast food outlet stands, so you earn a portion of rent received, but nothing on Chicken Licken’s earnings. Your earnings only go up if rent is increased, but it pretty much stays the same. Even worse, you aren’t allowed to exit this deal for a period of 10 years! Who exactly is benefiting from this Sasol deal? Sasol themselves admit you CAN lose your money as this is a stock market-related transaction, so even after 10 years you could still come out empty handed.
Someone is asking if I have better ideas on how BEE can be better administered so that people truly gain from its existence. I do in fact, have better ideas. But no one is willing to pay me enough for them!
Sasol, after being spanked on the wrist by Brian Molefe, the biggest single investor in the country, for not taking BEE and AA seriously, started scratching around for credible black faces to appear on its behalf at functions etc. Some were found, they came, some left. Thereafter a BEE share offer was made to the public and branded the biggest ever in the history of BEE. This part piqued my interest. So I picked up a sample prospectus of the offer and read it for myself. Sure enough the numbers were HUGE. We are talking something worth R30 billion. Big stuff. Until you scratch a little beneath the proverbial surface.
Firstly the list of advisors to the transaction – law firms, accounting firms, bankers etc – are all not exactly BEE themselves. So these folks will reap hundreds of millions for facilitating things even before the deal is sealed. Then I see there’s also a limit to how many shares are available. Worse, the shares do not constitute a direct ownership in Sasol, rather a vehicle towards direct ownership. It’s like buying into land on which a Chicken Licken fast food outlet stands, so you earn a portion of rent received, but nothing on Chicken Licken’s earnings. Your earnings only go up if rent is increased, but it pretty much stays the same. Even worse, you aren’t allowed to exit this deal for a period of 10 years! Who exactly is benefiting from this Sasol deal? Sasol themselves admit you CAN lose your money as this is a stock market-related transaction, so even after 10 years you could still come out empty handed.
Someone is asking if I have better ideas on how BEE can be better administered so that people truly gain from its existence. I do in fact, have better ideas. But no one is willing to pay me enough for them!
So Julius Malema is now as (in)famous as his immediate predecessor Fikile Mbalula? Or maybe even more so, perhaps as notorious as Peter Mokaba, the one before Malusi Gigaba? Malema last week said he and his followers are prepared to die for Jacob Zuma and the revolution, that in fact they would all take up arms and defend these two entities if necessary. I believe the ANC Youth League wholeheartedly, I really do. There is small doubt in my small mind that Malema is a committed patriot of the soil who will do anything to defend two of his most prized institutions; that of the ANC President and our country’s democracy. Many more young lions are in the same boat. They feel really strongly about what they see as continued harassment of their senior most leader by the National Prosecuting Authority.
What has a lot of observers in a slight knot are the words to kill. They say this is a threat to democracy, that this statement intimidates people, that in fact these words are inflammatory and tantamount to inciting violence. He of course says he will not apologise, despite calls to do so by the likes of bishop Tutu and others. Now even COSATU leader Zweli Vavi has reiterated these exact same words.
Is this really a call to arms? Should we be scuttling for the hills with our tinned fish and bottled water? I personally don’t think so. Yes we should be quite concerned that these adults and leaders are uttering these words at public gatherings. Words such as these could seriously be viewed as inciting violence, whereupon such violence should it take place, these leaders would simply deny they ever commanded anyone to kill. When Peter Mokaba said “kill the farmer kill the boer” he was not joking; it was a slogan thousands of ANC, PAC, APLA, MK and other struggle leaders chanted over years and years. People really did want to kill farmers because they represented the bottom end of the Afrikaner kingdom that sustained apartheid, they represented abuse of farm workers which were and still are some of the worst-off people in our society. Following farm killings, the public connected these chants to the violence, although I haven’t seen any report linking the two.
Who would Malema et al kill today? That is what probably has concerned faces dropping smiles en masse all over the country. Would it be members of the public? NPA workers? Judges? The cliché that is foreign immigrants? Or would it be anyone who opposes the election of Jacob Zuma as Mzansi’s President at the 2009 general elections? This mystery has us asking all sorts of questions about our leaders, our country, our future.
A small suggestion for Malema. How about we chant slogans like “no school, no future!” or something like “build a house, build a future!”. How about “kill HIV, kill AIDS!”? These seem more appropriate for 2008 to me than what ever else is being fought over. One thing Mbalula said, not may were listening to this, was that he and the ANCYL are always looking at ways of getting people to talk. So loud statements such as “walking around UKZN campus is like walking in Bombay” are supposed to raise issues in a manner different from the adults but still getting the nation into a discussion. The Zuma statement doesn’t appear to be of this ilk. And that is what scares so many people out there.
What has a lot of observers in a slight knot are the words to kill. They say this is a threat to democracy, that this statement intimidates people, that in fact these words are inflammatory and tantamount to inciting violence. He of course says he will not apologise, despite calls to do so by the likes of bishop Tutu and others. Now even COSATU leader Zweli Vavi has reiterated these exact same words.
Is this really a call to arms? Should we be scuttling for the hills with our tinned fish and bottled water? I personally don’t think so. Yes we should be quite concerned that these adults and leaders are uttering these words at public gatherings. Words such as these could seriously be viewed as inciting violence, whereupon such violence should it take place, these leaders would simply deny they ever commanded anyone to kill. When Peter Mokaba said “kill the farmer kill the boer” he was not joking; it was a slogan thousands of ANC, PAC, APLA, MK and other struggle leaders chanted over years and years. People really did want to kill farmers because they represented the bottom end of the Afrikaner kingdom that sustained apartheid, they represented abuse of farm workers which were and still are some of the worst-off people in our society. Following farm killings, the public connected these chants to the violence, although I haven’t seen any report linking the two.
Who would Malema et al kill today? That is what probably has concerned faces dropping smiles en masse all over the country. Would it be members of the public? NPA workers? Judges? The cliché that is foreign immigrants? Or would it be anyone who opposes the election of Jacob Zuma as Mzansi’s President at the 2009 general elections? This mystery has us asking all sorts of questions about our leaders, our country, our future.
A small suggestion for Malema. How about we chant slogans like “no school, no future!” or something like “build a house, build a future!”. How about “kill HIV, kill AIDS!”? These seem more appropriate for 2008 to me than what ever else is being fought over. One thing Mbalula said, not may were listening to this, was that he and the ANCYL are always looking at ways of getting people to talk. So loud statements such as “walking around UKZN campus is like walking in Bombay” are supposed to raise issues in a manner different from the adults but still getting the nation into a discussion. The Zuma statement doesn’t appear to be of this ilk. And that is what scares so many people out there.
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