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Zondo Commission – week 2 overview

The second week of public hearings for the Zondo Commission into state capture saw damning evidence that puts former president Jacob Zuma at the centre of what appears to be intricate plans for fleecing government departments to meet the interests of the Gupta family. It was first former ANC member of parliament Vytjie Mentor, and Read more >

Zondo Commission – week 1 overview

The first week of the Zondo Commission has already produced some explosive testimony. On Friday former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas testified that the Gupta brother he met with in October 2015, believed to be Ajay, boasted that “we are in control of everything…” – including the Hawks, the National Prosecuting Authority and the National Read more >

Gordhan shows way forward for cleaner public corporations

By David Lewis First published in Business Day Pravin Gordhan’s recent presentation to the parliamentary portfolio committee on public enterprises does indeed portend a “new dawn” for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). These massive corporations, many of which are producing critical basic goods for the country’s public and industry, have been front and centre of the plunder Read more >

Duduzane Zuma’s arrest a result of many contributions

By David Lewis First published in the Sunday Times Reading Jacques Paauw’s The President’s Keepers, I discerned two wings of the Zuma family’s commercial empire. The first could be described as their ‘business’ interests with the Guptas as their primary, if not exclusive, partners. Jacob Zuma’s son Duduzane exercised oversight of these family interests. The Read more >

In an ethical meltdown, we must keep ethics alive

By Cynthia Schoeman #KeepingEthicsAlive The current ethical status in South Africa is, to say the least, very troubling. Reports and claims of state capture, corruption and self-enrichment by a select few continue to emerge. The consequent political uncertainty coupled with low economic growth – with junk status threatening even lower growth – pose numerous risks, Read more >

The descent of Jacob Zuma in 31 steps and counting

By Kavisha Pillay and Mark Hayward First published on Daily Maverick Last week, the Constitutional Court heard arguments that Parliament should either allow for, or be ordered to conduct, a secret ballot when MPs are voting in a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma. The hearing came after a weekend of storms covered Read more >

AHI conference – ensuring that SMEs operate in an enabling environment

The Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI) is hosting a day-long conference, the first in a series of conversations between business, government and leading experts, designed to explore what we can all do to ensure that SMEs operate in a truly enabling environment. SMEs contribute as much as 30% of South Africa’s GDP and are responsible for creating Read more >

State capture report calls for commission of inquiry

The long-awaited state capture report was released yesterday, and one of the outcomes was the instruction by former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that President Jacob Zuma must appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into state capture. However, Zuma is not to choose the commissioner – that task falls to South Africa’s chief justice. State of Read more >