Controversial Bain & Company shuts up shop in SA
The mega consultancy firm suffered huge reputational damage when it was embroiled in a corruption scandal involving former President, Jacob Zuma.
The Nugent Commission in 2018 looked at how SARS was restructure according to a BAIN plan to become a shadow of its former self.
The Zondo Commission of Inquiry found that Bain colluded with Zuma and a former SARS commissioner, Tom Moyane, to seize SARS and weaken it deliberately.
The commission said it was one of the clearest cases of state capture.
British politician, former UK Cabinet Minister, Lord Peter Hain, who has ties to SA and has been vocal about Bain and Company.
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Daily Maverick
2 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
South African political parties' internal democracy problem
Several of South Africa's political parties seem to have little intention of allowing their members to elect their leaders. 'No electoral congress is on the cards for MK.' uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela was perfectly straightforward when asked by Daily Maverick this week whether the party had any plans to allow members to elect party leaders. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads MK has never made any pretence of this: all its leaders have been 'appointed' by former president Jacob Zuma, who leads the party's 'high command' — all of whose members were hand-picked by Zuma. Most recently, MK urged its members to be patient while Zuma decides who MK's next secretary-general will be, with the party's head of presidency, Magasela Mzobe, quoted as telling members: 'The president will soon call the national leadership and announce who will take over the SG position. He is still assessing; he asked that he not be rushed.' The MK party, in other words, is not a democracy. Democratic political parties periodically hold electoral conferences, at which delegates, acting on behalf of broader constituencies, cast votes for their leaders. But MK is not the only South African party being run like a fiefdom. Read more: Former MK party secretaries did many 'wrong things', says Zuma after Shivambu's axing Where is ActionSA's electoral congress? ActionSA, the party founded by former DA Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba, adopted its interim constitution in January. That constitution states that the party will hold a 'People's Convention' every five years, at which the party president and other office-bearers will be elected. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads It states that this electoral conference must be held 'within 9 (nine) months after the 2024 national government elections' — yet almost 15 months after the elections, this has not happened. Significantly, the ActionSA constitution also states: 'The People's Convention may not be held 18 (eighteen) months prior to an election of a general nature.' It's unclear whether this description would encompass the 2026 local government elections, which have been pencilled in for between 2 November 2026 and 1 February 2027. If it does, the party could have missed the window in which the conference should have been held. Asked by Daily Maverick on Monday why ActionSA had not yet held an elective conference and when it intends to do so, party spokesperson Matthew George pointed to another clause of the constitution, which reads: 'A membership audit must confirm that branches have been established in 70% of the wards of the country before the People's Convention can be called or upon the presentation of a resolution signed by 60% of the members of the Party.' George said the party was 'working hard to achieve' the branch target. He said, 'Importantly, in giving due effect to both constitutional provisions, we have sought not to elevate one above the other. As such, the matter of the People's Convention currently resides with the Senate, ActionSA's highest decision-making body in the absence of the Convention. The Senate will formally communicate the outcomes in due course, first to our internal structures and then to the media.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Even when the People's Convention is eventually held, the party's constitution decrees that not all positions are voted on. Of the top three ActionSA leadership positions — president, deputy president and chairperson — only the president is voted in at the elective conference. The constitution states that the chairperson and deputy president positions are 'appointed for a 5 (five) year term linked to the term of the President, by the elected President'. Patriotic Alliance is the playground of its 'Founders' The Patriotic Alliance (PA) did not respond to Daily Maverick's questions on Monday, but in its 12 years of existence, it is unclear whether anyone has been able to challenge leader Gayton McKenzie in a vote. Its constitution makes it clear that the supreme authorities in the party are the 'Founders' — 'one of the three individuals who originally established the Party': Gayton McKenzie, businessman Kenny Kunene and former journalist Charles Cilliers. The PA constitution says that party leaders are 'selected' — not elected — 'not based on popularity', but on their ability to deliver results. It openly states: 'The Patriotic Alliance rejects the inefficiencies of traditional hierarchies and elective conference-driven systems.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads The closest the PA gets to participatory democracy is hosting an annual general meeting at which members are supposed to be able to 'nominate candidates for consideration by the Founders to key Party positions'. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads However, 'The AGM does not have the authority to elect or confirm key Party positions unless the Founders neglect to approve or reject the nominations within 30 days of the AGM.' McKenzie suspended Kunene as party deputy president last month after Kunene was found at the house of an accused hitman — but he presumably retains his status as a 'Founder'. Read more: 'Continue Kenny's good work' — McKenzie appoints PA's Liam Jacobs to replace Kunene Other parties do practise democracy In other local parties, there is genuine contestation for leadership positions. Historically, the most significant of these has been the ANC's internal elections, since the winner of that contest has always gone on to be the president of South Africa. That may not be the case for the next victor, due to be elected in December 2027. The DA's Willie Aucamp confirmed to Daily Maverick that the DA's next electoral congress will take place next year, on 11 and 12 April. The Freedom Front Plus, meanwhile, held its congress in February, at which Corné Mulder was voted in to replace Pieter Groenewald as leader. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) pay lip service to robust democratic structures, but its People's Assembly was described by Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono in 2024 as an example of 'guided democracy': a system in which 'democratic processes, such as political party leadership elections, are allowed to exist, but are heavily influenced or controlled by a central authority or dominant political force or individual' — in this case, Julius Malema. As South Africa's political landscape fragments into personality-driven outfits, the barely-there visibility of internal democracy in parties such as MK, EFF, ActionSA and the Patriotic Alliance hollows out the very idea of representative politics. That only a handful of parties still hold genuinely competitive leadership elections underscores how rare true accountability has become. The genuine danger is also that it acclimatises South Africans to autocratic leadership — in a context where, to quote US President Franklin D Roosevelt, 'People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.' DM
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Top 10 stories of the day: US trade deal talks 'complex'
Here's your daily news update for Monday, 4 August 2025: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. News today includes trade, industry and competition Minister Parks Tau has outlined the challenges South Africa faced during negotiations with the United States (US), as the country prepares to respond to the looming 30% tariff on its exports. Meanwhile, former president and MK party leader Jacob Zuma has demanded the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa for 'repeatedly violating his oath of office', giving him until 10am on Friday to do so, or he will take action against him. Furthermore, South African television personality Dlamini accused Podcast and Chill presenters of hate speech and harassment. Weather tomorrow: 4 August 2025 Light snowfall is expected in parts of the Eastern Cape, while damaging waves and very cold weather threaten to disrupt beachfront activities between parts of the Northern and Western Cape. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. US tariffs: Here's why talks over trade deal have been 'complex' Trade, industry and competition Minister Parks Tau has outlined the challenges South Africa faced during negotiations with the United States (US), as the country prepares to respond to the looming 30% tariff on its exports. The tariffs are scheduled to take effect on Friday after South Africa did not reach a trade agreement with the US before President Donald Trump's deadline. Trade minister Parks Tau and international relations minister Ronald Lamola briefing reporters on the US trade negotiations. Picture: Supplied Trump had delayed the implementation of the tariffs for 90 days in April to allow time for negotiations. CONTINUE READING: US tariffs: Here's why talks over trade deal have been 'complex' Motorists could become targets of aggressive revenue collection operations by JMPD, says DA The DA in Gauteng has accused the City of Johannesburg of using Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers to collect revenue for the struggling municipality. The party says it has been reliably informed that JMPD officers have been told to collect R7000 in fines daily. A JMPD officer directs traffic. Picture: The Citizen/Nigel Sibanda The officers also have the option of working overtime to help them reach the target. CONTINUE READING: Motorists could become targets of aggressive revenue collection operations by JMPD, says DA Zuma demands Ramaphosa resign by Friday, or else… Former president and MK party leader Jacob Zuma has demanded the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa for 'repeatedly violating his oath of office', giving him until 10am on Friday to do so, or he will take action against him. Zuma and the MK party are still reeling from their Constitutional Court loss, which dismissed their urgent application to invalidate Ramaphosa's decision to place Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, appoint Wits law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister and establish a commission of inquiry. President Cyril Ramaphosa and former president Jacob Zuma. Picture: The Witness However, Zuma is not happy and has now written to Ramaphosa through his attorneys, demanding answers to questions related to Mchunu and Cachalia. CONTINUE READING: Zuma demands Ramaphosa resign by Friday, or else… Are there any safe cars left on SA roads? NCC issues another vehicle recall Week after week, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a product recall of certain car models due to issues that can lead to serious injury. The latest recall is of a Lexus LX600 due to an issue that can greatly increase the risk of an accident, especially at higher speeds. The NCC is a body that protects consumers by ensuring that businesses comply with consumer protection laws and treat customers fairly. Picture: iStock The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 safeguards consumers from hazards and ensures their well-being and safety by governing product recalls. The NCC can order a recall if a product is deemed unsafe or poses a potential risk to the public. CONTINUE READING: Are there any safe cars left on SA roads? NCC issues another vehicle recall Minnie Dlamini sues MacG and Sol Phenduka for R2.5 million over podcast remarks This high-profile case puts the spotlight on gender-based discrimination in digital media and could set a landmark legal precedent. South African television personality Dlamini accused Podcast and Chill presenters of hate speech and harassment. Minnie Dlamini attends the world premiere of Disney's Mufasa: The Lion King at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 09, 2024. Picture:for Disney In court documents submitted last week, according to Sunday World, Dlamini is seeking legal accountability, demanding R1 million for herself and an additional R1.5 million to be donated to a women's organisation. CONTINUE READING: Minnie Dlamini sues MacG and Sol Phenduka for R2.5 million over podcast remarks Here are five more stories of the day: Yesterday's News recap READ HERE: Here's how many illegal foreigners tried to enter SA | Lesufi reshuffles several heads of departments | Sibiya hits back at Mkhwanazi
eNCA
12 hours ago
- eNCA
Lions hooker Sheehan banned over Lynagh incident
British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has been suspended for four matches for flattening Wallabies playmaker Tom Lynagh in Saturday's third and final Test, World Rugby announced on Monday. The 26-year-old Irishman -- who captained the side for part of the 22-12 defeat after Maro Itoje suffered a head injury -- had argued his action did not merit a citing nor was it foul play. However, an independent panel disagreed, imposing the ban, although he will miss only three games if he successfully completes a coaching intervention. "The sanction has been accepted by the player," read the judgement. "In determining foul play, the Committee found that Sheehan's actions were reckless. "The Committee found that he made head contact with the Australian player, that his action amounted to a high degree of danger and that no mitigation applied." Sheehan charged into the breakdown during the first half of the clash in Sydney, appearing to elbow Lynagh in the head. It was missed by the referee and television match official (TMO), despite Lynagh leaving the field for a head injury assessment which he failed. Sheehan will miss his province Leinster's pre-season match against Cardiff and two United Rugby Championship games with South African sides the Sharks and Stormers.
