ANC POLICY CONFERENCE: REFLECTION & RENEWAL? NO, BUT TIME TO SHOW OFF RADICALLY TRANSFORMED DANCE MOVES!

The discussion documents have been released in advance of the upcoming ANC policy conference.  I wonder how many of you in attendance will have read, let alone understood the discussion documents.  To those who are in need of a bare bones simplified version, I am happy to oblige.  It will give you  the opportunity to at least engage in the discourse, and who knows, even impress your fellow comrades.  If so, you can then pursue more lucrative opportunities at the year-end elective conference.  

At first glance the discussion documents are sugar- coated in feel good lofty ideals that characterised the political movement of long ago, but no more.  

I do not wish to bore you with in-depth discussion details which may put you to sleep.  So, all you need to know is that the conference is supposed to be focused on policy for the good of the country, but it is now centered on the party's loss of power.  Although the documents profess the need for the party to engage in self-correction and renewal, the underlying message is one of paranoia and protecting vested self-interests.  This means that a litany of real issues, such as state capture, are essentially ignored.  So innately predictable, wouldn't you say?

Perhaps you will consider the urgent need to speak up in the name of renewal and self-correction.  It will be more satisfying than simply dancing the time away with  your comrades. 

THE IGNORANT ZUPTOID RUSHES IN . . .

Once again the spectre of underhandedness amongst South Africa's public officials has reared its ugly head.  This time it was Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's off-the-wall recommendation to Parliament to change the Reserve Bank's constitutional mandate.  Instead of the central bank's core role in protecting the value of our currency, its mandate would shift to protecting the socio-economic wellbeing of citizens.

Inasmuch as Mkhwebani's background lacks even less than rudimentary understanding of economic issues, it is highly unlikely she originated the recommendation to parliament.   Rather it is more likely she was fed Marxist voodoo economics emanating from Minister Gigaba's advisors - a witches' brew of ill-conceived and unrealistic economic policies.    Policies that Gigaba recognized could not publicly be advanced by Treasury, but which could, and have been set in motion to capture the Reserve Bank, one of the last bastions of stability and independence, with the cooperation of the Public Protector.

What other plausible explanation can one advance for the Public Protector's unwarranted interference in economic matters?  Can't think of another one - can you?

DEJA VU ALL OVER OVER AGAIN!

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane recently announced a preliminary probe into state capture following leaked Gupta emails .  According to her, a preliminary probe is a condition precedent to whether a full scale investigation will take place, if at all.  

The emails implicate government officials, state entities, and Gupta-controlled companies for crimes ranging from corruption, fraud, theft, racketeering to money laundering.

The ANC has welcomed the Public Protector's preliminary probe, because failing to do so will undermine "the integrity and credibility of our government and state".   Hypocritical hogwash indeed!  The ANC has for years turned a blind eye  to ANC government officials waltzing in bed with the Guptas. 

If the ANC was genuinely concerned with restoring credibility in government, it would align with those demanding the Hawks and the NPA do their jobs by vigorously investigating and prosecuting those who unlawfully enriched themselves to the detriment of the nation.  

The Gupta emails are a criminal investigator's dream as they are the smoking gun of incontrovertible incriminating evidence of egregious criminal conduct.  

Why then the ploy for a public protector's probe?  Simply to kick the can down a long road to nowhere to immunize those implicated from criminal prosecution. As Yankees baseball legend Yogi Berra would say "It's deja vu [in South Africa] all over again!"

GUPTA E-MAILS: WHAT NOW IF ANYTHING?

It is no surprise the ANC is calling for a judicial inquiry into state capture following bombshell revelations contained in leaked Gupta e-mails.   It can no longer turn a blind eye to a reservoir of evidence of looting of state resources under its watch.

On its face the ANC's call for a judicial inquiry seems reasonable.  Not so, in light of South Africa's dismal history with commissions failing to hold anyone responsible.  In the context of South Africa's political machinations, a commission to probe state capture is doomed, because it affords ample opportunities, as in the past, for those implicated to manipulate and subvert the very purpose for which the commission is intended.

The revelations are prima facie evidence of particularly serious crimes that demand investigation by the Hawks and prosecution by the NPA. Whether it will be a commission, a criminal investigation, or both, the scandal, like so many others, will be swept under the rug to languish and collect dust.  One is then left with the long-held axiom that white-collar crime in South Africa's public sector does pay handsomely.

AN OPEN LETTER TO DUDUZANE ZUMA

Hey Dudu:

The Times reported (31/5/17) that in 2015 you purchased a swanky Dubai flat for nearly R18 million in the prestigious Burj Khalifa.

I am pleased your association with the Gupta brothers has not only been an enriching experience, but one that has taught you to geographically diversify your property portfolio.

Although I, and many South Africans have never met you, we do have a special relationship.  As South African taxpayers we funded the purchase of your flat through an exclusive VIP programme, the brainchild of you know who, infamously known as 'State Capture'.

Inasmuch as I, and my fellow taxpayers are third party beneficiaries in the purchase of your flat, we clearly share in the fruits thereof. I suggest a time share arrangement managed by your friends at the Saxonwold compound.

I plan to be in Dubai in two weeks to check out the place, and report back to my fellow time share beneficiaries.  Please insure a plentiful supply of Chivas and caviar, not forgetting fresh 600 thread count cotton sheets on the beds.

I, and my fellow South African taxpayers are keen to meet you. I suggest we do so over a drink - that's what new friends do.

Regards,

Errol Horwitz

JARED KUSHNER - THE COST OF NEPOTISM

As more details emerge of Russia's interference in the US presidential election, speculation is transforming into recognition that Trump's campaign and transition team aides acted in concert with Russia.

The recent revelation to surface is the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, proposing to Russia's ambassador to the US, a clandestine communication channel  between the Kremlin and the Trump transition team.   His proposal - a backchannel with equipment located at the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C.

Kushner is in for a torrid time, a time that may include prison time.  His failure, according to Reuters, to disclose phone calls with Russian officials when applying for his security clearance puts him squarely in the middle of a federal investigation.  Kushner's explanation:  he has no "recollection" of the calls.  A  simply absurd defence unless he can produce evidence of an early onset of dementia!

Inasmuch as Kushner now finds himself in the centre of a federal probe, he should  have at the outset realized that, as a real estate developer, he was unqualified to be Trump's senior adviser for everything.  The die is cast as Kushner will learn to his detriment.

A DEN OF THIEVES AND LIARS

The ANC's has expressed public outrage at Brian Molefe's reinstatement as Eskom's CEO.  Other than outrage it refuses to take action, and has called upon government and parliament to remove Molefe.

Clearly all is not well at Luthuli House.  Public Enterprises Minister Lynn Brown was summoned to Luthuli House on May 15, 2017, for the express purpose of instructing Brown to reverse Molefe's appointment, alternatively, dissolve the board.

Nothing came about following Brown's tete-a-tete with the ANC's top six. - no reversal of Molefe's reinstatement, or dissolution of the board, other than an expedient referral of the scandal to government and parliament -  another clear indication of the ANC losing control.

In the meantime Molefe's hotline to the Gupta brothers must be ringing off the hook.  We have Brown  and Ben Ngubane, Eskom's chairman to thank for reinstating Molefe, which can be turned into an opportunity by firing all three of them.