AN IGNORANT FINANCE MINISTER-IN-TRAINING ON A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba is in the US on a mission impossible to meet with investors and Moody's Investor Service. The odds of reassuring investors and the rating agency that South Africa will not be a repetition of Venezuela's economic collapse are stacked against him.

Gigaba faces an uphill struggle  in attempting to allay investor and rating agency concerns.  Concerns that focus on a moribund economy crippled by political intrigue, instability and looting of state resources, further exacerbated by a clueless finance minister-in-training.

Even Gigaba's self-absorbed dandy dresser exhibitionism will not bewitch or captivate his audience.  Rather, to paraphrase Tom Wolfe he will be seen as naked with little or no influence in attracting white monopoly capital, or a Moody downgrade.

ANC'S IRRATIONAL POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS: COGNITIVE DEFICIENCY - YES AND NO

A High Court recently ruled in favour of The Helen Suzman Foundation and Freedom under Law's application to declare Berning Ntlemeza's appointment as head of the Hawks irrational and unlawful. It is one further example of an epidemic of irrational appointments by public officials.  Irrational decision-making infects every level of the ANC government - the crown jewel of irrationality being the firing Nene and Gordhan by Zuma.

It would be a simple matter to posit that the prevalence of irrationality within the ANC is due to cognitive deficiency.   This may be so, but the phenomenon has its genesis in the country's educational system that mindlessly regurgitates  useless information.  It is a system devoid of critical thinking , which if implemented, would transform mindlessness into well-reasoned rational decision-making.

In the absence of rational decision-making the judiciary must step into the breach and review arbitrary and irrational executive actions, failing which political patronage, cronyism and corrupt practices will continue to erode South Africa's constitutional fabric.

MALIKANE'S VOODOO ECONOMICS - A RECIPE FOR CHAOS

The prospect of a turn-around for South Africa's economy took another hit with the appointment of Professor Chris Malikane as economic advisor to Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba.

The learned professor has advocated radical economic transformation by "the expropriation of white monopoly capitalist establishments such as banks, insurance companies [and] mines", including expropriation of land without compensation.

South Africa's economic landscape has become a breeding ground for voodoo economics - a potpourri of unrealistic and ill-advised economic policies.  Malikane's voodooist proposal on economic transformation is a rehash of Hugo Chavez's socialist economic policies that catapulted Venezuela to the brink of complete economic collapse and political chaos.

The DA's MP David Maynier facetiously accused Malikane of being trained at the "Hugo Chavez School of Economics".  Not according to Malikane's profile.  But, their paths may have crossed as economic soul mates when Malikane received a Ph.D from the 129th ranked New School in New York.  According to U.S. News & World College Rankings  the best that can be said about the New School is small class size, and international student enrollments. A far cry from a ringing endorsement for academic excellence!

Chavez trashed Latin America's richest economy.  Expect the same for South Africa if Malikane's proposal is implemented.

I DARE YOU BALEKA MBETE

Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete filed her affidavit opposing the UDM's Constitutional Court application for a secret ballot in its motion of no confidence against President Zuma.

Mbete argues persuasively against the relief sought by the UDM.  The Court will likely rule In the Speaker's favour on separation of powers grounds.

The victory will be a cover-up for the real reason for her opposition -  ANC MP's voting in favour of the motion in a secret ballot.  A wrong assumption, according to Mbete, as ANC MP's are not  "weak-kneed, timid, cowardly, unprincipled and spineless. . ."

Madam Speaker it is not a wrong assumption, but an inexorable truth.  Care to rebut?  I don't think so!

MAINE & ZUMA: DUMB & DUMBER

The ANC Youth League President Collen Maine's verbal incontinence overflowed once again when addressing supporters outside Luthuli House last Friday.  In doing so, he welcomed South Africa's downgrade to junk status, believing that "when the economy rises again, it will be held by us".

Ordinarily one would ignore his pitiable diatribes as simply symptomatic of incurable mental midget disease.  Not so, because he, like his vacuous predecessors, former ANCYL presidents Malusi Gigaba and Fikile Mbulala, will in due course be inducted into Zuma's cabal of loyal cabinet lackeys.

Maine is very much like his idol Zuma.  They are both semi-literate, one-dimensional, empty-headed, but believing they know everything - essential ingredients in a long-life recipe for South Africa's junk status.

THE ANC'S DARTH VADER & THE DARK SIDE

Does it really matter whether Jacob Zuma steps down, or is replaced at the ANC's elective conference?  Either way Zuma will still be calling the shots because his successor will have his imprimatur.  Supported by Zuma's inner circle his successor will slavishly toe the line to ensure uninterrupted looting of state resources.

Barring the unforeseen Zuma's pick will succeed him, and the rot will continue. But, if the ANC has any interest in redemption it should start by grooming  the likes of Makhosi Khosa, an intelligent, thoughtful and courageous ANC MP.  Even though she has crossed swords with the party elite, her advancement within the party will redound to its benefit.

Zuma is the ANC's Darth Vader.  He views himself as the central figure in the ANC's universe.  Everything and everyone within the collective is useful only to fulfill his needs.  His lackeys, seduced by the spoils of corruption, are happy to support his presidency, even though they know they are cannon fodder when the chips are down.

Zuma will leave behind a calamitous legacy the impact of which will haunt South Africa for many years to come.

ZUMA'S IGNORANT INNER CiRCLE SPEWS A LOAD Of BS

South Africa's downgrade to junk status will result in extreme economic hardship  for it's people, especially the poor.

Members of Jacob Zuma's inner circle have however welcomed the downgrade.   The likes of Nomvula Mokinyane and Dudu Myeni were overjoyed, joining with Edward Zuma in celebrating the downgrade.

Mokinyane's remark was especially telling:  " it's actually better Western investors will pull back and we gave an opportunity to bring them back in (sic)
our own terms".  Clearly Mokinyane's comment rises to the level of atmospheric  ignorance of economics.

Instead of making a complete unpatriotic fool of herself, she should recognise her cerebral limitations are more in keeping with her water and sanitation portfolio by providing decent sanitation for the poor in the settlements.  Failing that she must be taken to task for spewing a load of BS.  

INSANITY, COWARDICE & CAPITULATION

Insanity, cowardice and capitulation readily describes the march of events of the past week. 

South Africa was launched into a crazy place with the firing of finance minister Pravin Gordhan by the country's irrepressible Teflon man, Jacob Zuma.  It was a repetition of the insane economic upheaval that gripped the country after Zuma fired Nene.  This time, however, Zuma has unleashed irreparable economic harm and political turmoil.  

The stakes are now much higher as South Africa had been downgraded to junk status.  Many hoped Zuma had finally met his Waterloo as a number of top party officials had called on him to step down.  In response Zuma successfully marshaled his lackeys, who came to his aid once again.  

As for the mutiny of the few, with cap in hand, they agreed to toe the line.  In doing so, their moral compasses were reset, never to navigate beyond cowardice and capitulation.  Be prepared for dark days ahead.   

RACKETEERING IN THE GUISE OF SALARY

So after all is said and done Collins Letsoalo, former acting CEO of Prasa  is not required to pay back his R5.9 salary plus benefits.  The fact that he walks away unscathed is one thing - what sticks in one's craw is the obscene compensation paid to the likes of Letsoalo and his ANC comrades in similar cushy government jobs.

If one applied what is called the Employee Value Proposition - a measurement of the balance between what Letsoalo received in return for his performance, he makes out like a bandit. The salary paid to him presupposes extraordinary educational background, and the highest level of progressive experience commensurate with the compensation for the position.  In the private sector in Letsoalo's  CV would be summarily trashed, but in the ANC government, wallowing in patronage, cronyism, fraud and corruption, Letsoalo's mediocrity is the same as brilliance.

SOUTH AFRICA'S NEW FINANCE MINISTER - A CLUELESS DANDY

South Africa woke up into a real nightmare last Friday, even though the purging of Pravin Gordhan and his deputy was expected. What was shocking was the recycling of Malusi Gigaba to finance minister.

When it comes to leading the treasury experience is what matters most.  Gigaba has zero experience to lead the treasury. The fact that he is not ready for prime time is inconsequential to Zuma.  Rather Gigaba satisfies Zuma's nefarious needs. Gigaba will give Zuma the key to the treasury's door.  He and his cabal will finally get off the starting blocks to plunder the rainbow nation's dwindling pot of gold.

Inasmuch as inquiring minds want to know what also tipped the scale for Zuma to appoint this nincompoop, a source offered the following:

Although Gigaba lacks an iota of intellectual ability and experience to head the treasury, Zuma, an ardent admirer of Gigaba, and in particular his penchant for expensive fashionable suits and accessories, is confident that the dandy's wardrobe does make and shield him from his naked ignorance.

One more reason for the country and history to remember Zuma because "the evil that men do lives after them. . . "