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The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Dick Foxton: A man who made influence personal
Dick Foxton thrived on human connection, proving old-school charm could still trump modern tech in building bridges. I am now at an age where I get irrationally enraged at the lack of human interaction in much that I used to rely upon real people for. From opening bank accounts to submitting tax returns, making bookings, even checking in for flights; there's an app for that. It's tedious, time consuming and strange the first time you have to do it, none of which are happy places for the 60 and over. But if you push through, it's amazing how easy they are. As the millennials and the alphabet soup generations that follow will tell you, it's all intuitive, you just have to find the time – and the urge – to play around with the new tech, like using a TV remote for the first time when your kids leave home and you're trying to navigate from your wife's streaming service to the Boks on SuperSport in time for the anthems, without throwing the remote out the window. ALSO READ: Meet Thuli Madonsela's 'heart protector' Life's faster, easier and cheaper with technology, but it is also depersonalised, a lesson that was driven home on Friday afternoon at Dick Foxton's funeral in Johannesburg. The 82 year old, who literally walked with kings but never lost the common touch – and fell in love with Thuli Madonsela – was the first of the real lobbyists, bringing business, politics and media together, using nothing more than a 25-year-old Nokia 6210. Foxton's magic sauce was the personal touch. He kept in contact using the Jurassic methodology of voice calls and breaking bread around a table, getting people who might sometimes have been at loggerheads because they didn't understand one another's positions to find common ground. Foxton was inordinately successful at what he did, by any metric. ALSO READ: VBS Bank: 'Let us not condemn without evidence,' says Madonsela He was living proof of the adage that if you do something you love, you'll never work a day in your life. The fact that no-one has ever come close to matching him in the 50 years he ran his one-man company, that literally was not much more than a PA, a driver and a fax machine and, latterly, e-mail (but never from himself) – speaks volumes to his acumen, his work ethic and probably the constitution of a dray horse. Unlike Canute and the waves, Foxton actually managed to turn back technology with humanity. In the words of one of his granddaughters on Friday, he was probably SA's first proper influencer. RIP, Dick. NOW READ: 'Ramaphosa has set gold standard in ethical and purposeful leadership': Thuli Madonsela
The South African
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The South African
DA issues Cyril Ramaphosa with 48-hour ultimatum
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen has launched a blistering attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa following the sudden dismissal of DA member Andrew Whitfield from his position as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Steenhuisen warned that the move has endangered the fragile unity within the Government of National Unity (GNU), describing it as a 'calculated political assault.' The DA has now issued a 48-hour ultimatum to President Ramaphosa: fire several ANC ministers and deputy ministers accused of corruption or face severe political consequences. 'They triggered all of the events that follow,' Steenhuisen declared in Parliament, adding, 'What happens next is entirely on the ANC and President Ramaphosa.' Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed Whitfield's removal on Thursday without providing an explanation. Steenhuisen revealed that he was informed of the decision moments before Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, and that the President ignored his request for 24 hours to consult the party. According to Steenhuisen, Whitfield's removal was based on an alleged failure to obtain presidential approval for a trip to the United States. However, the DA insists that Whitfield had written to Cyril Ramaphosa requesting permission on 12 February, but didn't receive a reply. Steenhuisen accused Ramaphosa of applying a double standard and protecting ANC allies implicated in corruption, while punishing a DA deputy minister for 'bureaucratic technicalities.' He named several officials who remain in cabinet despite facing serious allegations: Thembi Simelane – Implicated in the VBS Bank looting. – Implicated in the VBS Bank looting. Nobuhle Nkabane – Accused of misleading Parliament on cadre deployment. – Accused of misleading Parliament on cadre deployment. David Mahlobo – Linked to state capture corruption by the Zondo Commission. 'Hardworking DA Members of the Executive are now being fired for fighting corruption, not for committing it,' Steenhuisen said. He further alleged that Whitfield had been actively blocking questionable appointments and exposing corruption in the department, particularly concerning the Transformation Fund and the National Lottery. The DA has demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa fire Simelane, Nkabane, Mahlobo, and others within 48 hours, or risk unraveling the GNU. Despite the controversy, the DA supported the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, prioritising governance over political fallout. 'We are nothing like the ANC,' Steenhuisen told Parliament. 'The DA will always put South Africa's interests above narrow politics.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
