The Week That Was

Gerald Potash,

Hello again,

I’m back from Australia and it’s hard to know where to start so much has happened.                                                                    

The top story of the week, for me, concerns Julius Malema and the (illegal) manner in which he allegedly attained his wealth. The publication of the book, Malema: Money. Power. Patronage., by investigative journalists, Micah Reddy & Pauli van Wyk sets out how wily politicians use the money meant for the poor to fund their extravagant lifestyles and personal benefits. The Cape Town Press Club is set to host the two investigative authors later this month to tell their story, and I can’t wait to hear what they have to say.       

In related news, Malema was recently found guilty on firearms charges. While sentencing is pending, his mounting legal challenges come amid international criticism, including from the USA for his controversial rhetoric and his continued singing of “Kill the boer, kill the farmer”. A severe sentence in the firearm case could potentially bar him from sitting as a Member of Parliament.

Allegations of criminality and corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) remain a major story. The allegations initially brought forth by Lt. Gen. Mkhwanazi, include corrupt relationships between police officials, criminals, and politicians.  Ramaphosa did, what he always does in such cases, set up a Commission of Enquiry into the matter. Judge Madlanga heads it up to investigate these claims.                                            

We SAns are tired of these stories of infiltration and corruption in our police services and hopefully, the unhealthy connection between ANC cadres and those meant to protect us will come to an end.                                                                                         

One of the reasons this has been front-page newspaper material this week is that Mkhwanazi has accused the press of bias and disingenuity. When the press reported on his attacks on top-level cops, all was well, but they, the press, don’t like being criticised. We are proud to have a free press, but pressure builds and the press can take sides. I have noticed how biased our press can be in its reporting on the war in Gaza.                                         

Mkhwanazi’s allegations are also being investigated by an ad hoc parliamentary committee, and the sittings have revealed just how crooked and corrupt the police service has become. Not only the police, but, according to Mkhwanazi, the judicial services, too, are infiltrated by criminal cartels. It is scary to see how these criminals are controlling our lives. And the Minister of Police, Senzo Muchunu? Oh, he is on special leave because of the insinuations made against him.  Cyril is simply too weak to fire him, so he stays on at full pay but doesn’t come to the office.  

Cyril is a wuss.

Ramaphosa is a bore. His speech to the nation about the ANC’s new 10 point economic action plan was nothing more than the same old thing. Nothing, but nothing has worked in the seven years he has been at the helm. Those who watched the TV broadcast no doubt yawned and then dozed off. We have heard it all before and we can see how far backward South Africa has gone, despite Cyril’s promises, with our GDP now at just 0.8%. Justice Malala, in his article in the Financial Mail, calls the action plan a ‘damp squib’. The only way to excite the business sector, according to Malala, is for the ANC to implement policies with speed, honestly & vigour.

Ramaphosa faced criticism this week from columnist William Saunderson-Meyer in The Citizen for the composition of the panel selected to find the next National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). With Shamila Batohi’s term (thankfully) nearing its end, the concerns that the inclusion of politically compromised individuals on the selection panel shows a lack of independent and ethical justice. 

I was having coffee with the coach yesterday after gym and he showed me this WhatsApp lampoon that he had just received from his daughter in Sydney. I don’t know who created it, nor do I know if it was published anywhere but I simply had to include it here:

A major concern facing our Health sector is the staggering loss of skilled professionals. Die Burger reported this weekend on the estimated 125,000 health workers who have left the country in the last 12 years. Dr. Ruhan Botha, Chairman of the Junior Doctors of SA (Judasa), noted that Irish agencies actively recruit young doctors immediately upon their completing the compulsory community service after graduation. He also stated that twice as many nurses as doctors are leaving, putting immense strain on the healthcare system.

The massive misappropriation of funds in the health sector continues to be exposed. The Tembisa Hospital has been a focal point since the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran. Last week the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided the home of Hangwani Maumela, attaching three Lamborghini (all blue) sports cars and a Rolls-Royce. Maumela allegedly benefited from fraudulent hospital contracts, and the SIU is currently attempting to recover R800 million linked to these corrupt dealings.

Interesting on the business front is that Walmart is just about to opened its first store here, in the Fourways Mall in Johannesburg. With Game (which is in the Walmart stable) not doing well at all, we can expect more Wal-Mart stores to open up throughout the country.

Not only are our car manufacturers businesses shrinking in the economy (due to the American tariffs) but this week it was announced that Coca-Cola is closing its plants in Bloemfontein and East London. Then our one-time vibrant textile industry is on its knees and Cyril believes it has to do with China and their two big textile trading operations, Shein & Temu being so active here. Cyril is blaming Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie for negotiating with Shein in Singapore, whereas negotiations should have been done by our Trade, Industry & Competion (TICD) Department. Someone should tell Cyril that the textile industry has been shrinking since the ANC took over. It has not just happened! 

Former Cape Town mayor and DA leader, who also served twice as the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille has resigned from her party positions to run for the mayor of Johannesburg. She faces strong opposition, notably from Herman Mashaba, a former DA mayor of Johannesburg who now leads the ActionSA party. Zille says she aims to “turn this disaster of a city into the prize it once was”.     This is a cartoon from Carlos from a few months ago when Zille decided to run for the position. It was featured in News24:

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has requested the courts to finally commence the corruption trial of former President Jacob Zuma. After 18 years of legal delays (stalingrading), the NPA has requested that the trial proceed without further postponement, regardless of outstanding appeals. Also in the news these past few weeks has been the story of Zuma owing the State over R30 million in legal costs that he irregularly took for his repeated court applications.

Australia was wonderful, and I had delightful and fulfilling catch-ups with many old friends. (We are all getting old) I thank everyone who made the effort to accommodate me. Being with the family is always so warm and comforting. It was a wonderful trip taken at a sad time.

On the local sports front I’ve followed our Proteas cricket test against Pakistan. We lost, but there is still another test to play.  In the United Rugby Championship campaign our Stormers have started wonderfully with three wins in a row. This weekend, the Stormers play Zebre in Palma, Italy.

And the best sports news of all is that on Tuesday night our National soccer team, Bafana Bafana qualified, by beating Rwanda, to play in the next World Cup competition. That hasn’t happened since 2010 when the tournament was held here.  

As always,                                                                              

Gerald