Five things you need to know about SA today

1. For all you online media luvvies out there, My Broadband reports that Colin Daniels, the publisher of  The Times Online, is leaving Avusa for Auto Trader. I hear via the grapevine that Laurice Taitz, the former editor of Sunday Times’s Lifestyle supplement who has been in charge of content there for a few years, has also left recently.

2. Veteran hack Simon Barber, who is now the US country manager for the International Marketing Council, has done an opinion piece for Business Day urging us all to leap to the call by  Joburg tech writer Simon Dingle to say something positive about SA on Twitter with the hashtag #SAis. Some shiny, happy people have already got tweeting after Dingle’s call on Radio 702. Read them in Barber’s piece here. Call me cynical but I have to say there’s something a tad pathetic  about the Good News Brigade, like that ridiculous website South Africa: The Good News. I think in a developing nation,  you’ve got to take the good with the bad because there are a lot of bad things  happening to people out there beyond the suburbs.

3. IOL  has a peculiar story about Gauteng MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who bought a Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG for just under a R1-million from a dealership and is now being investigated for theft. It appears to be a weird mix-up as the car was registered to one of the directors of the Alberton dealership. But it does beg the question how can an MEC justify buying a car worth the price of a middle-class home with government money? Get yourself a Getz, lady! Read the story here.

4. DA leader Helen Zille appears to have backed down a bit on her all-male cabinet and admitted she made an error, which the ANC has welcomed. Read the story at News24 here.

5. And Moneyweb has a cool Reuters story up on its site about tomorrow’s “tech titans”, the young ‘uns with the big ideas that could become tomorrow’s tycoons (and pics of each one, many of whom are still teens). Nice presentation, guys, you just forgot the border abound the pics. Click here to go there.

Popularity: 4% [?]

1. Here’s a choice bit of observation at today’s cabinet pow-wow. IOL reports that DA leader Helen Zille, who is at the cabinet lekgotla as Western cape premier, was spotted in the parking lot at the Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria texting messages into her cellphone — while the other delegates were inside with their phones locked in a cubby hole. Click here to read. The reporter wonders if Zille is worried about having her cellphone bugged. It seems the mood was rather jolly in the boardroom and Zille had a friendly chat with President Jacob Zuma before hand. This after she caused a media storm when she called the president a “selfconfessed womaniser” and has broken protocol by scheduling her state of the province address before Zuma’s state of the nation speech.

2. Zuma’s spokesman says that his wives are all equal and he hasn’t made a choice about first lady. Read the story here at The Times.

He hasn’t decided that only one is the first lady. He will decide at any given time who will go with him. He may go with all three of them.

That will make for a jolly little tea party with Ms Clinton, when Team Zuma go to Washington.

3. It’s official — we’re in recession. But if you’re thinking state spending will get us out of it, then read this opinion piece by Business Day. It turns out that state spedning is already the chief ingredient to growth, with yesterday’s figures from Stats SA showing  construction, government services and personal services is being supported by the official purse.

4. There are a few companies doing well out of our straightened circumstances. Mr Price has reported a  24% increase in  clothing sales to R4.5-billion for the year to the end of March as consuners are shopping more at the cheaper end of the market. The chain store has opened 58 new stornes in this period but also said even they were expecting  the year ahead to be “challenging”. Read the IOL story here.

5. And talking about the economy, here’s an excellent piece by veteran reporter Hilary Joffe at Business Day anaylsing Eskom’s application for a 34% tarriff increase. Read it and you’ll see why there no reason for the public to pay for the parastatal’s need to invest in new infrastructure. Here’s one fact that staggered me: The R60-billion the government is giving Eskom this year is the first equity injection from the state  since Eskom was established in 1923!

Popularity: 23% [?]

The animosity between the ANC and the DA is growing and, with party leader Helen Zille’s breach of protocol (she’s scheduled her state of the province address before President Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address), it’s likely to get worse before it gets better. (Click here to read The Times story on the latest spat.)

Last week, Grubstreet spoke to the DA’s leader in Parliament, Athol Trollip, who made headlines when he said Zuma should be treated with the respect that his office confers on him.

Trollip, who surprised many when he beat DA strategist Ryan Coetzee to the caucus leader’s job, is an Eastern Cape farmer who is known for his affable and collaborative style. Looks like he’s going to have his hands full in his desire to build a constructive relationship with the ANC.

Athol Trollip

“Anger very often clouds sanity,” Trollip said. “What I’ve been trying to instill in my colleagues at a provincial level and will continue to do so at a national level is to make sure we don’t try to engage the ANC is a shouting contest. Seventy-seven (DA) members will never be able to outshout 264 ANC members.

“I believe that we can do much more than being an opposition in Parliament, where one is typecast as antagonistic and politicking with the ANC. There is a place for it but I am a proponent of political engagement in the plenaries in Parliament… We will be an effective, critical opposition — where the ANC falls down and cannot deliver on (election) promises, we will expose that and come with an alternative that will make government more effective. ”

Those who know him from the Eastern Cape say Trollip will do the DA a lot of good in Parliament as because he grew up speaking Xhosa in rural Eastern Cape, he understands traditional African etiquette that the top people of the ANC appreciate: you can be forthright but polite; there’s no need to shout.

“It would come out very clearly when he addressed the premier,” said Zingisile Mkabile, the former Pan Africanist Congress leader in the Eastern Cape who has since left politics. “He has some understanding of African values in terms of respect… And having operated in the Eastern Cape, I think his approach will be different compared to those who come from the Western Cape or Gauteng, where the DA is much stronger. The opposition parties were overwhelmed by the ANC in the Eastern Cape so you had to find a way of navigating through that territory.”

It was in his new role as spokesman on the presidency that Trollip characterised Zuma as a fallible, “warm-blooded” South African that was read by some as contrary to Zille’s pronouncements on the president. In a letter last week to The Times newspaper, which reported Trollip’s statements at the Cape Town Press Club under the headline “Top DA man’s attack on Zille”, he denied distancing himself from Zille in any “shape or form”. (Click here to read The Times story that caused the mini media storm.)

He told Grubstreet that he thought the headline did not reflect the report or his statements. He says both Zille and he respect Zuma as the country’s president — a sentiment, he says, that has not been returned by the ANC for Zille’s position as premier of the Western Cape.

The DA is the most media savvy of all the parties and when asked if the strategy may be to project the Trollip and Zille as “good cop, bad cop”, Trollip smacked it down.

“It just shows you a week is a long time in politics because a week ago Helen was the darling of the media and the public. I think it’s a very funny question and I don’t want to be contemptuous about it,” he said.

“I believe I was elected on the strengths I bring to the caucus and not because I would be a balancing act for Helen. And I don’t believe she’s a bad cop. I believe she is an incredibly good cop and the reason why people saying she is being aggressive, you must understand the kind of onslaught she’s under (from the ANC Youth League and MK veterans).”

Trollip may be known for his collaborative style but Bobby Stevenson, who has taken over as the DA’s leader in the Eastern Cape legislature, said: “I think it’s wrong to say he’s not confrontational. He’s not afraid to call a spade a spade or point out any failures of government. I think he doesn’t personalise politics. He doesn’t get personal. He sticks to the issues – that’s his style.”

Click here to read a Q&A with Trollip I did for the Dispatch in 2007 when he campaigned for the top job in the DA and lost to Zille.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Five things you need to know about SA today

1. If you’ve been wondering what our former president, Thabo Mbeki, is up to these days,  he turned up as a  last-minute guest at a student meeting at Rhodes. He was by all accounts thoroughly charming and affable and even joked about a former Lovedale teacher who had a penchant for gin in a science beaker. Who turned out to be the grandfather of one of the students! Clearly,  the pressure’s off now that he’s not the Pres and he’s back to charming pre-presidency Mbeki! Read the Dispatch story here.

2. DA leader Helen Zille is under fire by the ANC again as she’s scheduled her state of the province address for Friday — before President Jacob Zuma delivers his state of the nation speech next week. This is a breach of protocol, says the government, so things are sure to get even nastier than they are between the ANC and DA. Read The Times story here.

3. The Times also reports that a doccie on political satire, which the SABC pulled  just before elections last month, will be on tonight on Special Assignment on SABC3 at 9.30pm. Click here to view a video interview with cartoonsit Zapiro at The Times. Zapiro’s work is featured in the show.

4. IOL has a handy rundown on President Jacob Zuma’s political appointments, who will advise him on his policy drive. Click here to go to the story.

5. Business Day reports that Cosatu will meet government ministers on the sidelines of a cabinet pow-wow tomorrow to try resolve an impasse over civil servants’ pay. Read the story here.

[poll id="17"]

Popularity: 9% [?]

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who before the election said he would not be proud to have Jacob Zuma as his president, has joined that recent trendy national past-time of giving our man in Pretoria the benefit of the doubt.

In a really fascinating — and exceptionally well written — interview with The Guardian newspaper, the Arch says:

It’s water under the bridge. It’s the new reality. He’s been inaugurated. He’s appointed a new cabinet. Let’s see what happens. At this stage, I am perhaps neutral… I’m sad for my country. I think we could have done a great deal better in the way that we handled the differences… But then, politics is politics, and we have to live with these realities as they are.

So now it’s only DA leader Helen Zille swimming upstream and, I do think that any hopes by the DA’s leader in Parliament, Athol Trollip, that the opposition have a contructive relationship with the ANC have been scuppered completley. Witness the ANC refusing to give the DA any chairmanships of  Parliament’s portoflio committees. Ouch. That’s got to hurt and even the affable Trollip must have cursed (colourfully in Xhosa) under his breath when that came out last week.
The Tutu interview is long but well worth a read and a fascinating insight into the man most South Africans adore. It also appears that the Arch has written a children’s book called “God’s Dream” published by Walker Books in the UK. The message of the book is that we are all God’s children no matter what our differences but is not, apparently, a bible puncher. Click here to go to Walker Book’s info page about it.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Well, the five to survive today is real garland of goodies. And on that flowery note, let’s start with something fun and frothy before we get into the heavies.

1. Some astounding news out of Durban. Durban’s Botanic Gardens took gold at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show in the UK. Hot news? Of course. SA’s flag has always been flown by Kirstenbosch in Cape Town, so this win is a real coup for the East Coast city. East Coast Radio’s Newswatch have all the details of the display that won. The 2010-themed display included Agapanthus and ferns. Check it out.
2. Politicsweb pick up on the ongoing saga Cape Judge President John Hlophe’s attempts to keep himself from being judged by the Judicial Services Commission for allegedly trying to interfere in a Constitutional Court judgment relating to now President Jacob Zuma. They publish statement by the Young Communist League, which if you didn’t know better, could be read as hysterical satire. These conspiracies know no bounds it seems. A sample:

   The YCL believes that the matter has been greatly compromised by the statement made under oath by one of the judges [Judge Mvuseni Ngubane] pertaining to the timing of the hearing on Hlophe. The YCLSA does not in anyway suspect political conspiracy in the matter, but will not be shocked if there is evidence pointing to such given Ngubane’s “reasons for dissenting views” which has been submitted to court as part of the Hlophe submission to the Cape Town High Court.

3. And then this gobsmacker from IOL which seems to slipped under the radar of anyone living outside of Joburg. Our former health minster-cum-minister-in-the-presidency-cum-fond-of-a-tipple Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has been appointed African Union Goodwill Ambassador and Champion for the Improvement of Maternal and Child Health in Africa beyond 2015. There are no words…
4. This one will test the new government’s commitment to fighting crime. The Daily Dispatch report on how the East London Flying Squad’s last car broke down on Monday leaving members of the unit no option but to cadge rides from other units. Considering that they cover an area the size of a small European country this should produce some interesting follow-ups. The squad should have at least three high-powered cars on the road 24-hours a day, but had been reduced to a Nissan Tilda – and now that’s gone bellies. Read more here
5. More news of the bizarre in this ongoing story over a Facebook hate group which apparently involved ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu and a deputy cabinet minister, Malusi Gigaba, as page adminstrators. IOL have a story about it here and Politicsweb have the DA’s response. I can’t find the “Helen Zille – is still a venomous white racist adulterer” page on Facebook myself so perhaps it has been removed.
   

Popularity: 3% [?]

Five things you need to know about SA in 140 characters

Yesterday I heard Twitter fan Gareth Cliff at 5fm do the news headlines in 140 character each a la Twitter. This took my fancy  so I’m trying it out today too.  And no need to sit and count the letters as i popped them in Tweetdeck first.

1. Hlophe ’s lawyers takes potshot at Bizos and claims JSC is biased.  Judge gives parties till Friday to make further submissions. Click here

2. Foreign investors ask Zuma to clarify position on investment climate after Cosatu tried to stop Vodacom listing at last minute. Click here

3. Zuma should fire Icasa bigwigs for incompetance for their role in Vodacom fiasco, say SA analysts. Quite right! Click here.

4. DA’s new parliament leader distances himself from Zille’s attacks on Zuma, saying the president is a warm-blooded South African. Click here

5. CNN hack Richard Quest has left our shores to discover a leak had flooded a neighbour’s apartment and everyone is blaming every one else.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Five things you need to know about SA today

1. Here’s a perfect example of plonkonomics at work: The M&G has a business story saying that SABMiller says that South Africans are drinking cheaper beer brands and are partying more in their own homes — rather than in the pub. This has emerged in the brewing giant’s  preliminary results for the 12 months to March 31. Click here to read the story and pass me another Black Label from the cooler box.

2. The Witness in Maritzburg has an interesting crime story today. A KZN Midlands farmer was ambushed and killed  in what is believed to be a hit related to a land claims dispute. Read the full story here.

3.  Talk about adrenaline junkies. SA’s only microlight formation flying team will produce a first for the country when they take to the skies at the  Rand Airshow on Sunday at sunset — with fireworks. Read the story at The Times here. Nothing like doing flips in a flying bicycle packed with incendiary goods to pump the nads.

4. And on to more serious matters. Not! DA leader Helen Zille says her  all-male Western Cape cabinet is here to stay because she is not interested in “50-50 bean counting”. I’m with you on this one Helen. I think most womenfolk  — except that odd anacronysm, the ANC Women’s League — have moved beyond demanding skirts in power for their own sake. Read The Times story here.

5. And the Dalai Lama is now apparently welcome to visit South Africa except this is probably the last place on earth — except Beijing — he wants to swan off to, methinks.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Five things you need to know today about SA

1. News24 says that in court papers filed by former president Thabo Mbeki he admits he tried to delay the arrest of suspended police chief Jackie Selebi to give him time to prepare the country for the arrest. Read the story here.

2. Meanwhile The Times  reports that KZN politicos are abuzz with speculation that the natty ANC heavyweight Bheki Cele may soon be made the new national police commissioner. Read the story here.

3. Up for a stroll in quiet, landscaped gardens? The Dispatch has quite a story about holes in the perimiter wall of an East London medium security prison that allows memebrs of the public to slip through and wonder the prison grounds (and possibly inmates on gardening duty to escape).  Click here and have a look at the pics of people caught in the act!

4. The Human Rights Commission has said Enough already, children, after the political mud-slinging between DA leader Helen Zille and the ANC, saying: “The country does not need this right now.” Nuff said. Read the IOL story here.

5. The twit in space, Astro_Mike, passed by another satellite that allows him to send his once-a-day Twitter to earth. “Getting more accustomed to living in space today and getting ready for our big rendezvous with hubble,” says the astronaut. Not much of a sense of humour, this guy. What we want to hear is: “Having aliens for lunch.”

Popularity: 8% [?]

Five things you need to know about SA today

1. This is top of the pops today! The Dispatch’s wayward Port Alfred correspondent Dave Macgregor, who has a special talent for ferreting out oddball people, has a story about a man in Hamburg (a little coastal resort between Port Alfred and East London) who is converting the farmers in the area into fine imported coffee that he serves up from a trailer. His children, Kei and Che, are making cookies to sell from the traveling business so that they can save up and buy a tractor. My favourite thing in the story is this nifty turn of phrase:

Investing R50 000 in state of the art roasters, a grinder and coffee machine, after four months in Hamburg, McConnell has already converted longtime chicory chuggers into caffeine junkies.

Chicory chuggers — I love that! Read the story here.

2. Cope’s Allan Boesak says that the ANC needs to give the DA and Helen Zille a chance in the Western Cape after promising last week to give her major uphill. Quite so, Reverend, who said the ANC’s response to losing the Western Cape to the DA smacks of a “child-like”  tantrum. Read the story here.

3. Unfortunately, the ANC is ignoring this call for constructive opposition politics, with ANC heavyweight and Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana calling Zille a “witch” while in Dutywa in the Transkei at the weekend. Read the story here. Honestly, someone as senior as the minister should not be going around trying to give Julius Malema a run for his money.

4. And while we’re on the DA, their former leader Tony Leon (writing in the Sunday Times at the weekend) about his hope that Jacob Zuma will usher out an era of frosty Mbeki politics in Parliament, suggested that the party’s parliamentary leader could be either Ryan Coetzee or Atholl Trollip. It will be interesting to see. Read the story here.

5.  Sasha-Lee Davids from Atlantis won Idols last night. If, like me, you can’t be bothered to follow the show but are curious about how she sang click here to go to KykNet, which has a range of Idols videos up from the finale. Be warned, thouhg, there’s lots of buffering and it’s a tad slow.

Popularity: 6% [?]