Populists such as Jacob Zuma are a threat to democracy‚ political researcher says

Jacob Zuma and Donald Trump get matching bruises in a new book about the threats to democracy around the world.

After studying five young democracies and two established ones‚ Prof Ursula van Beek of Stellenbosch University says SA is “struggling in the aftermath of the ruinous rule by former president Jacob Zuma”.

While Van Beek criticises populists such as Zuma‚ she finds herself on the same side of the globalisation argument as the US president‚ who told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday: “America is governed by Americans. We reject the ideology of globalism and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.”

Van Beek‚ editor and co-author of Democracy Under Threat: A Crisis of Legitimacy?, said: “Democratic nation-states are no longer fully in control of their own economies as they are tied into — and rely on — the global economic system.”

This exposed citizens to more severe economic and social risks and increased inequality. “Global technological advances call for highly skilled individuals [who] are more mobile and generally financially better off than their less skilled fellow citizens who have fewer job opportunities ... This disparity evokes resentments that can lead to populism.

“The rise in populism is also a response to the growing inflow of migrants and refugees‚ which the open borders of democratic nation-states facilitate‚” said Van Beek‚ founder and director of the Transformation Research Unit in Stellenbosch’s political science department.

“The populist tendencies have spread even to the most established democracies — the election of Donald Trump ... is a good example of people who feel marginalised and who are thus ready to support a populist candidate promising them a better life.”

The book‚ with contributions by leading researchers across the world‚ says populists are not anti-democracy. Instead‚ they “erode the liberal values of democracy through their rhetoric and attempts to undermine liberal institutions to better serve their own ends”‚ said Van Beek. 

Van Beek and colleagues focus on five young democracies — SA‚ South Korea‚ Chile‚ Poland and Turkey — and the well-established democracies of Germany and Sweden.

Apart from SA’s Zuma struggles‚ Turkey had become an authoritarian state and Poland had a populist leader. “The three countries have suffered a setback to their democracy‚” said Van Beek.

“In the process‚ SA has experienced a rise in radicalism between 1995 and 2013‚ with support for democratic rule declining and support for nondemocratic rule on the increase.”

Bathabile Dlamini is personally liable for part of the legal costs of the Sassa saga

Former social development minister Bathabile Dlamini has been ordered to pay 20% of the legal costs related to the 2017 South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) debacle, out of her own pocket.

The Constitutional Court handed down its judgment on Thursday in relation to the cost order for the application brought by Sassa and Dlamini, which resulted in the grants payment contract with Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) being extended in 2017. In March 2017, the Constitutional Court ordered that CPS continue to pay grants for 12 months‚ after it was found that Sassa could not take over distribution‚ despite previously saying it could.

Thursday’s judgment comes after an inquiry, headed by judge Bernard Ngoepe, into whether Dlamini should be held personally liable was conducted. The inquiry had submitted its report to the court.

Ngoepe found that Dlamini was a “less than satisfactory witness” who was evasive.

He also found that controversial workstreams had been appointed by Dlamini and reported directly to her and that she was aware of their actions, despite stating otherwise in court documents and testimony.

The Constitutional Court also ordered that the findings from the inquiry and this judgment be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to consider whether Dlamini lied under oath and if she should be prosecuted for perjury. 

Policy uncertainty will keep SA firmly in recession territory

Much has been written recently about the South African economy having entered recession this year, which was apparently a surprise to some observers. News headlines would want us to believe that this is only a technical recession and not a real recession. When the economy shrinks it is technically a recession, a real recession.

Yet those who follow the SA Reserve Bank — the institution tasked with dating our recessions — would know that we have been in recession since December 2013. While there were signs in the first quarter that the recession could be at an end, even then leading indicators of the business cycle were not unanimous in suggesting the start of an upswing.

A recession is a period of sustained deceleration in economic activity across most sectors of an economy. Typically, recessions are characterised by an actual decline in output and sales, but they need not be. The key feature of a recession is its momentum — economic activity continually weakens or remains weak. This is why the Bank already identified the current recession as having started at the end of 2013.

The SA business cycle has passed through a decade of unfamiliar territory. We exited the post-crisis recession relatively quickly — by August 2009 — only to enter a weak business cycle expansion. According to the Bank, this ended in December 2013.

As the current recession did not follow an exuberant period of strain on productive capacity or unsustainable demand growth in the economy, the usual sharp declines characterising recessions were absent. Instead, most indicators showed sideways, rather than clear downward, movements.

Already in early 2014, this strange behaviour led the late Cees Bruggemans — former chief economist at FNB and a frequent contributor to this newspaper — to suggest "suspending" talk of a cycle in SA. His point was that underlying societal shifts and uncertainty were behind the strange business cycle behaviour. Indeed, there is ample evidence that our five-year-old recession was and remains the result of businesses and households forced into, and remaining in, "wait-and-see" mode.

This uncertainty is most evident in private-sector investment, which is the key driver of a sustainable business cycle recovery. There is a wealth of literature that documents the impact of uncertainty.

Recent research at Stellenbosch University suggests that up to 40% of the variation in SA investment expenditure can be traced to variations in business confidence in 1992-2017.

The developments since the first quarter confirm that our recessions are linked to policy uncertainty and its detrimental effects on investment and consumption decisions. While business confidence improved markedly at the start of 2018, pointing to improving economic conditions and an end to the recession, other leading indicators of the business cycle did not move, notably indicators of investment plans. But things took a turn for the worse in April with the introduction of new uncertainty driven by the expropriation without compensation debate.

Whether intended or not, the message SA households and businesses (not only farmers) received is that property rights are no longer sacrosanct. Residential and corporate investment (houses and buildings and agricultural investments) and durable consumption expenditure (car purchases) — all key parts of a sustainable business cycle upswing — have come to a halt. So much for the end of the recession.

Of course, other factors also play a role. The international business cycle expansion, at least the US expansion, is well developed and financial and commodity market developments have affected, and still affect, many of our sectors. This may naturally prolong the recession. But global factors cannot explain why we have been in recession for five years. Nor do they wholly, or even mostly, explain the reversal in conditions since the first quarter.

Understanding our recession to be much older — and related to heightened uncertainty, especially about policy direction — is also critical when considering the road ahead. We need to avoid thinking of the recession as unexpected and/or caused by international factors beyond our control. The business cycle effects of uncertainty, especially around property rights, are likely to be long-lasting.

The problem is that the expropriation uncertainty does not constitute a transitory shock to business confidence, such as a sudden oil-price spike, weaker global conditions or rand depreciation. It rattles the framework upon which local economic decisions rely.

If there is a debate to be had about how the government should respond to this recession, it should be about how to urgently address ill-advised and incoherent policies that have pushed us into recession and continue to push us deeper into the mire.

Outrage at Ramaphosa claim 'there are no killings of farmers' in US TV interview

A remark by President Cyril Ramaphosa during an interview on Bloomberg television has led to an angry response in SA.

In the interview, Ramaphosa states "‘there are no killings of farmers or white farmers in South Africa", and goes on to say "there's no land grab in SA".

"Both of Mr Ramaphosa’s statements are untrue. Data produced by the South African Police Service shows that 62 farmers and farm workers were murdered in the country in the 2017-2018 financial year,” the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) said of Ramaphosa's remarks: 

"IRR analysts have also demonstrated that a simple media scan will offer up examples of violent land and farm invasions across a number of SA’s provinces, including the Free State, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal."

IRR CEO Dr Frans Cronje said: "Mr Ramaphosa’s comments are offensive to the victims of farm murders — black and white — and to the millions of South Africans who live with insecure title to the properties they occupy."

Ajay Gupta uses being a vegetarian as proof of Vytjie Mentor’s testimony being false

Ajay Gupta has dismissed as “fiction” former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor’s evidence that he offered her a ministerial position and lists several reasons why she is lying‚ including her statement that she was offered mutton curry when they met.

In a 42-page affidavit before the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture‚ Ajay disputes several claims Mentor made in her testimony:

He denies offering her the job of public enterprises minister‚ saying his family never had an interest in Jet Airlines‚ which Mentor claims was the basis for Ajay offering her the post. He was responding to Mentor’s evidence in which she said: “If I agree to facilitate that SAA doesn’t fly that route [Johannesburg to Mumbai] any more‚ then I could become the minister of public enterprises … I asked him: ‘How so?’ Ajay says: ‘Neither I nor any of the entities in which I have an interest ever had a partnership with an airline‚ let alone one that could take over the SA-India route’.”

Mentor claimed Ajay Gupta then told her that former president Jacob Zuma would reshuffle his cabinet‚ including then minister Barbara Hogan.

He denies she met with Zuma at his family’s Saxonwold home‚ as testified‚ and attached photographs of the compound to his affidavit to prove this.

Ajay says her saying she was offered mutton curry during her alleged 2010 meeting with him — during which she says he offered her the post of minister of public enterprises — cannot be true. “We are of the Hindu religion and maintain a strictly vegetarian diet. It is anathema to suggest that meat of any form, let alone in the form of chopped up sheep, would be allowed to enter our home‚ let alone enter our kitchen and form part of a meal prepared and served in our home.” 

He denies her evidence before the commission that he wears a “pointing finger” ring.

He also shoots down Mentor’s claims that his brothers arrived to pick her up from OR Tambo International Airport‚ carrying a placard with her name on it and wearing dark glasses. “In fact‚ neither my brother‚ Atul‚ who was the chair of our group of companies at the time, nor my brother Rajesh have ever undertaken the basic function of fetching people from the airport‚ let alone brandishing a placard bearing the name of any person; nor did they wear telecommunications earpieces … together with dark glasses and suits such as security people wear.” 

He further denies the family has ever owned a black twin-cab bakkie‚ the vehicle Mentor claims the brothers used to fetch her.

“Significant cross-examination will be necessary”‚ Ajay states‚ after pointing out there are “substantial disputes” between Mentor’s testimony and the Guptas’ response to it.

Ajay does, however, admit that he and his brother Rajesh “attended the events forming part” of Zuma’s state visit to China in 2010. “We did so‚ together with other delegates from our group of companies … My team’s business meetings were arranged by the consulting company Cadiz and were not part of the state visit programme.”

Ajay also confirms that Zuma’s son‚ Duduzane‚ attended the state visit “on behalf of his company Mabangela”. But he denies Mentor’s evidence that Duduzane introduced his brother Rajesh‚ as well as controversial arms deal adviser Fana Hlongwane‚ to her on a flight to China.

He also disputes that the Guptas were‚ or claimed to be‚ part of Zuma’s “advance team” to China‚ or were in any way involved in his security or logistics arrangements. “We were businessmen taking part in the state visit for the same purpose as all other businessmen who were taking part in the state visit.”

Ajay’s application for cross-examination was dismissed. It is the first time his affidavit regarding Mentor, and former government communications head Themba Maseko, has been released to the public.

Turning to Maseko‚ Ajay also denies trying to bully him into channeling government’s R600m advertising budget to Gupta media companies.

“I deny that I claimed to be able to discipline any government official who failed to carry out my demands‚” he states‚ adding that he knew “nothing of and was not involved in (in the event that it took place) any phone call made by then president Jacob Zuma to Mr Maseko on the day he came to see me at Saxonwold”.

Maseko has testified that Zuma asked him‚ during that call‚ to “help” the Guptas.

Ajay says he did meet Maseko but the purpose of the meeting was “to get clarity on the policies and practices of the The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in the awarding of [government] advertising”.

Icasa and government finally reach accord about spectrum

The government’s drive to release additional spectrum is gathering pace after the department of telecommunications and postal services and the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) — the communications regulators — reached an out of court settlement regarding  the future allocation of high-demand spectrum.

The high cost to communicate in SA has largely been blamed on a lack of competition and the "spectrum crunch". Spectrum, often referred to as the lifeblood of the wireless industry, refers to the radio signals set aside to carry data over the air, including for mobile phones, TV and global positioning systems (GPSs).

This is a limited resource largely controlled by the government. The release of additional spectrum will be key in terms of diversifying and boosting competition in telecommunications sector, and reducing the cost of data.

As part of an auction in 2016, Icasa invited applications for 700MHz, 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum licences to boost the roll-out of faster broadband. However, telecommunications and postal services minister Siyabonga Cwele approached the courts to challenge the auction, arguing that the government’s policy on spectrum was yet to be finalised and that such an auction would only benefit the big operators.

After years of uncertainty, the department and Icasa have reached an out of court settlement. The agreement between Icasa and the department is in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to “initiate the process for the allocation of high-demand radio spectrum to enable licensing” as part of the economic stimulus and economic recovery plan.

“In terms of the settlement agreement, Icasa will withdraw the [invitation to apply] and the minister will also withdraw the legal challenge,” the department said on Wednesday.

“The agreement is a product of consultations between the minister, the department and Icasa. As a result of the settlement, the minister commenced consultations with Icasa on a draft policy direction for the licensing of high demand spectrum and intends issuing the draft policy direction for public comment. This policy direction will be issued in terms of the provisions of the Electronic Communications Act of 2005,” the department said.

It said at the end of the public consultation process, and after considering the final policy and policy directions issued by Cwele, Icasa would commence the licensing process for the assignment of high-demand spectrum.

“We are determined to move with speed to transform the sector to enable a greater participation of black women, the youth, people with disabilities and SMMEs,” said Cwele.

“We shall continue to consult with all stakeholders to ensure that we roll out modern telecommunications infrastructure and services at affordable costs to all citizens of our country. SA is open for investment in the ICT sector. Accordingly, the settlement agreement and the subsequent policy direction will contribute to improving investor confidence,” he said.

Icasa chair Rubben Mohlaloga said: “The authority is indeed pleased that the impasse over the licensing of high-demand spectrum has finally been resolved. It is our concerted view that the settlement of the 2016 litigation and pending consultation process on the policy direction provides much needed certainty for the sector to thrive.

“The authority will ensure that it executes its mandate in a manner that promotes competition, facilitates transformation of the sector and provides a regulatory environment that encourages investment in the sector,” he said.

Michael Masutha has not ruled out extradition of Guptas after new treaty with UAE

Justice minister Michael Masutha has not ruled out using a newly-signed agreement between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to have the controversial Gupta brothers extradited from Dubai to stand trial.

The countries signed the mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties on Monday after negotiations began in February 2010.

“The treaties will enable the two countries to assist each other in the investigation and prosecution of crimes through mutual legal assistance and the extradition of fugitives,” the department of justice and correctional services said.

Although Masutha did not refer directly to the Guptas by name‚ when asked about whether or not the treaty could impact the Gupta case or other high-profile matters‚ he said via WhatsApp: “It certainly will provide the necessary legal framework for mutual cooperation between our two countries in relation to criminal investigations.”

In August‚ the Hawks assured parliamentarians they were working behind the scenes with Interpol to have the Guptas extradited from India or Dubai to face charges linked to state capture.

The Gupta brothers are wanted on charges of fraud and corruption in relation to the Estina dairy project in Vrede‚ Free State. Ajay is also wanted for allegedly offering a bribe to former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in 2015.

Ajay and Rajesh Gupta applied to deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo for leave to cross-examine Jonas at the state capture inquiry.

They made a joint application for leave to cross-examine Jonas‚ former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor and former GCIS boss Themba Maseko‚ but the request was turned down by Zondo‚ who said they had no valid reason not to appear before the commission.

The brothers had stated that they would testify before the commission if it traveled to a neutral location outside South Africa or via a video conference.

“They [Ajay and Rajesh] say that they are presently in the United Arab Emirates‚ that they have no intention of ever returning to South Africa for any reason whatsoever‚ and that the reason why in effect is that they are afraid that the Hawks will arrest them as a result of what they call incompetence on the part of the Hawks‚ and that they may be charged by the National Prosecuting Authority‚ which they say is also incompetent‚” Zondo said‚ paraphrasing a supplementary affidavit the commission received from the brothers.

DA public enterprises spokesperson Natasha Mazzone believes the treaties mean the Guptas are “fast running out of places to hide as they can now face extradition to finally answer for state capture”.

“For far too long‚ the Guptas have shown contempt for the law and dodged accountability for bleeding the country’s state-owned enterprises dry. They should not be allowed to run and hide anymore.”

Tourism experts warn SA’s new child visa regime is confusing

Home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba’s announcement that minor children travelling to SA would only need to show full documentation "by exception" serves only to confuse travellers‚ says the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa).

Gigaba said on Tuesday that instead of requiring all foreign minors to carry documentation proving parental consent for travel‚ the home affairs department would instead strongly recommend that travellers carried this documentation.

"Our immigration officials will only insist on documentation by exception — in high-risk situations — rather than for all travellers‚ in line with practice by several other countries‚" he said. But Satsa was not convinced the announcement made the situation better.

The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates the sector contributed about 9.4% — or R413bn — to GDP in 2017 and employs 1.5-million people.

"Home affairs issued an obfuscated message that serves only to confuse travellers‚ much in the way it did when the regulation was first introduced three years ago‚" Satsa CEO David Frost said.

He said issuing an international travel advisory only in October‚ after Gigaba’s vague statements that an unabridged birth certificate may be requested by immigration officials on arrival‚ simply reintroduced the confusion the organisation fought many years to dispel.

Frost said this undermined comments by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week that he wanted to make it easier for foreigners to visit SA.

"Our position from the start has been that this draconian, heavy-handed and nonsensical policy to combat child trafficking has no place in the modern economy," he said.

"Rather‚ it should be dealt with through proper policing. Semantic changes to the regulation are not the solution."

The organisation said it believed the requirement to produce unabridged birth certificates must be eliminated immediately to ensure SA’s competitiveness as a tourism destination and remove any confusion around the requirements for foreign minors.

The Association of Southern African Travel Agents said it was also disappointed that SA minors would still be required to present unabridged birth certificates when travelling. CEO Otto de Vries said if the government wanted to stimulate the economy‚ these requirements needed to be scrapped for all travellers‚ including South Africans.

"The controversial requirement for travelling families has stifled outbound tourism‚ as it is making it difficult for local families to travel internationally. Why would you continue to apply a policy that will hamper and frustrate them?" said De Vries.

He urged the government to apply the new policy consistently and across the board. "Only applying the policy for international travellers would have no relevancy and creates inconsistency," he said.

"The stringent requirements were implemented to combat child trafficking. If the government only removes the requirement for international travellers‚ are they suggesting that only SA passport holders are guilty of child trafficking?"

The department also said it plans to implement a revised critical skills list by April 2019.

Gigaba said a three-year multiple entry visa would be introduced for frequent, trusted travellers to SA and a 10-year multiple entry visa would be available for business people and academics from Africa.

Business people from China and India would be issued with 10-year multiple entry visas, which they could attain via courier services instead of applying in person. "This arrangement is meant to attract business people and prospective investors," Gigaba said.

Ramaphosa announced the visa regime overhaul on Friday as part of the stimulus package to revive the economy.

SAA’s miraculous flight continues as the thieves thrive on

South African Airways is making progress with its plan to reach profitability in the next three years, even as it faces challenges such as a jump in fuel prices, Chief Executive Officer Vuyani Jarana said in an interview.

Jarana said he expects losses until the company can break even or achieve profitability at the end of the 2021 financial year as the embattled state-owned airline improves its revenue.

“I’m still quite comfortable about the execution of the plan,’’ Jarana said late Sunday.

The airline reported a loss of R5.7 billion ($398 million) in the year ended in March, more than double what it had budgeted, and received a government bailout last year to avoid a default on debt owed to Citigroup Inc.

The management is considering a sale of the airline’s catering unit, Air Chefs, and outsourcing or selling SAA Cargo, the Johannesburg-based City Press reported Sunday, citing an internal report. It’s also headed to record a R6 billion loss.

The CEO said the leaked document outlines scenarios but no final decisions have been made. He pointed out the the company’s own corporate plan forecasts losses for the next several years.

“On revenue we’re quite happy, but other aspects are more difficult,” he said in an interview.

SAA is watching to see what competitors do about fuel hedging strategy, an unanticipated issue that’s emerged with higher oil prices, he said. The airline has used a hedging policy, “but it’s not an aggressive one,” Jarana said.

The airline’s international business and supply chain reform are core strategy topics, he said.

“We’re focusing a lot on areas where there are revenue leakages due to malfeasance,” he said.

Michael Masutha has not ruled out extradition of Guptas after new treaty with UAE

Justice minister Michael Masutha has not ruled out using a newly-signed agreement between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates to have the controversial Gupta brothers extradited from Dubai to stand trial.

The countries signed the mutual legal assistance and extradition treaties on Monday after negotiations began in February 2010.

“The treaties will enable the two countries to assist each other in the investigation and prosecution of crimes through mutual legal assistance and the extradition of fugitives,” the department of justice and correctional services said.

Although Masutha did not refer directly to the Guptas by name‚ when asked about whether or not the treaty could impact the Gupta case or other high-profile matters‚ he said via WhatsApp: “It certainly will provide the necessary legal framework for mutual cooperation between our two countries in relation to criminal investigations.”

In August‚ the Hawks assured parliamentarians they were working behind the scenes with Interpol to have the Guptas extradited from India or Dubai to face charges linked to state capture.

The Gupta brothers are wanted on charges of fraud and corruption in relation to the Estina dairy project in Vrede‚ Free State. Ajay is also wanted for allegedly offering a bribe to former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas in 2015.

Ajay and Rajesh Gupta applied to deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo for leave to cross-examine Jonas at the state capture inquiry.

They made a joint application for leave to cross-examine Jonas‚ former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor and former GCIS boss Themba Maseko‚ but the request was turned down by Zondo‚ who said they had no valid reason not to appear before the commission.

The brothers had stated that they would testify before the commission if it traveled to a neutral location outside South Africa or via a video conference.

“They [Ajay and Rajesh] say that they are presently in the United Arab Emirates‚ that they have no intention of ever returning to South Africa for any reason whatsoever‚ and that the reason why in effect is that they are afraid that the Hawks will arrest them as a result of what they call incompetence on the part of the Hawks‚ and that they may be charged by the National Prosecuting Authority‚ which they say is also incompetent‚” Zondo said‚ paraphrasing a supplementary affidavit the commission received from the brothers.

DA public enterprises spokesperson Natasha Mazzone believes the treaties mean the Guptas are “fast running out of places to hide as they can now face extradition to finally answer for state capture”.

“For far too long‚ the Guptas have shown contempt for the law and dodged accountability for bleeding the country’s state-owned enterprises dry. They should not be allowed to run and hide anymore.”

‘Bullying’ led to parliamentary manager’s suicide

A parliamentary manager who shot himself dead in his office left a note saying his suicide was a protest against 20 months of bullying.

The note from Lennox Garane‚ 57‚ a section manager in parliament’s international relations and protocol division‚ was handed to mourners at a memorial service.

Headed "It’s A Protest Suicide"‚ it described how his life became a misery after a former ANC MP was appointed as his manager.

Garane said he submitted a grievance‚ but the man to whom the "unrepentant bully" reported refused to consider it‚ "saying parliament is a political environment‚ which I interpreted as meaning political appointees ... were free to do as they wished with lives of those below them".

After a further rebuff from the parliamentary accounting officer‚ said Garane‚ he complained to Baleka Mbete and Thandi Modise‚ respectively the speakers of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

When nothing came of that‚ "in desperation‚ I submitted a protected disclosure to the parliament committee responsible for oversight over parliament administration".

Garane added: "All this time‚ [my manager] continued abusing and isolating me — a psychologically and emotionally wrecking experience ... a pure devil-inspired act.

"Twenty months on‚ I could not take it any more — I had to resort to this protest action to get the message across to the perpetrators and protectors of unfairness."

Garane shot himself on September 14‚ and last week Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli apologised to his family at the memorial service and said an inquiry was planned into events leading to his suicide.

The suicide note was posted on Facebook by Moira Levy‚ a former manager in parliament’s communication services‚ who said on her Notes from the House website that it was important not to let Garane’s suicide be reduced to a security issue.

"The collective parliamentary condemnation of apparent flaws in security control are a dangerous red herring‚ diverting attention away from the real reason that an employee of our People’s Parliament entered the building bearing a gun‚ made it to his second-floor office‚ and‚ sitting at his desk‚ made the decision to take his own life‚" she said.

"My heart goes out to his family and friends‚ but my concern lies with former colleagues who continue working for an institution that is commonly described by those employed by it as ‘toxic’.

"To ensure that nothing like this happens again‚ management must undertake to flush out the poison that everywhere leaks into Parliament’s institutional culture."

The National Education‚ Health and Allied Workers’ Union‚ which represents parliamentary workers‚ said Garane’s suicide did not come as a shock "to those of us who regularly deal with cases of victimisation‚ bullying and abuse of power by some members of senior management at the national legislature".

It added: "Something like this was bound to happen‚ especially when you consider the amount of ill-treatment that ordinary workers‚ junior and middle managers have to endure from some members of senior management.

"Some of these senior managers are so incorrigible because no decisive action is ever taken against their intransigent behaviour. The union and other workers continue to lodge grievances against these managers‚ but no one ever acts on those complaints."

Tear gas and handcuffs at Mantashe’s meeting near Xolobeni village

Human rights attorney Richard Spoor was arrested after a heated fracas with mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe on the Wild Coast which reportedly ended with tear gas fired against anti-mining protesters on Sunday.

Spoor‚ who represents members of the Xolobeni community who are opposing an Australian-backed venture to mine ilmenite and other heavy minerals on community land south of the Wild Coast Sun Casino‚ was arrested on Sunday.

A video clip from the scene showed Spoor‚ shortly before his arrest‚ engaged in a heated discussion with Mantashe outside a large marquee erected during the minister’s weekend tour to KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape to address community tensions over several coal and dune mining ventures.

"Don’t call me a liar please! I am trying to help you. If you work with us we can work together to solve problems‚" Spoor told Mantashe in the clip.

Mantashe responded: "Okay. But you are disrupting my meeting."

Attorney Johan Lorenzon stated that Spoor was released on warning on Sunday afternoon after being charged with "incitement" under the Riotous Assemblies Act and was due to appear in the Bizana Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

A second video clip from the scene showed police forming a defensive line to prevent members of the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) from entering a large tent where Mantashe was addressing a meeting near Xolobeni village.

The committee claimed that Mantashe was seeking to impose a "pre-cooked pro-mining propaganda" agenda at the meeting‚ without allowing opportunities for engagement by those opposed to mining.

The proposed mining project has led to bitter divisions within the community‚ following several violent clashes in the community – which has included the unsolved murder of prominent anti-mining leader Bazooka Radebe in 2016.

Responding to queries about the circumstances preceding Spoor’s arrest‚ a spokesman for the department of mineral resources said‚ "In short‚ discussions were positive. All parties present were given an opportunity to present their views either for or against mining‚ including a representative of the ACC.

"It’s unfortunate that that a small group of people were instigated to disrupt and suppress discussions‚ but the meeting proceeded as planned. Following this visit the minister now has first-hand knowledge and understanding of the issues in Xolobeni and will be able to take a more informed decision moving forward."

On why Spoor was arrested‚ the department said: "Kindly contact Mr Spoor or the local police for comment regarding his arrest."

But the anti-mining committee painted a different picture of events on its Facebook page.

"This is what has just happened in Xolobeni today: The minerals minister Gwede Mantashe was supposed to engage with the Amadiba Crisis Committee and coastal residents to hear their concerns about mining the Wild Coast.

"However he arrived with Zanuzuko Sigcau‚ the claimant king of amaMpondo‚ and the Mayor of Bizana to impose what was quite clearly a ‘precooked meal’ — a pro mining propaganda exercise. The programme also indicated that it was about officials simply presenting to community‚ with little allowance for real engagement. 

"The ACC objected to having Zanozuko and Chief Lunga Baleni on the podium and in the programme.... There was a very heavy police presence‚ with full riot gear seemingly aimed at intimidating the ACC who were protesting peacefully but loudly‚ singling songs and toyi-toying against the mining.

"One of the community’s lawyers‚ Richard Spoor‚ tried to approach the podium to try and talk to Gwede and to police commissioner Swartz (Schwartz) to try and defuse the situation but was forcibly removed from the tent which only served to escalate the conflict. Stun grenades and tear gas were then used to disperse the ACC supporters (in other words‚ most of the Amadiba coastal community).

"They regrouped outside the tent and continued to sing and dance. The tear gas affected Nonhle Mbuthuma and other ACC members but no one has been injured."

The anti-mining committee claimed that about 400 people were bussed in "from outside to try and dilute the ACC members.

"The ACC members then tried to go back to the tent where the meeting was continuing but were blocked by police from entering. In other words‚ the meeting about mining did not include the very people it would affect."

In a WhatsApp message posted from the meeting‚ a witness claimed that committee member Nonhle Mbuthuma was "tear-gassed in the face".

"Richard went to the podium to explain what is happening. Then police stopped him‚ then some people started beating him with chairs. Then he was taken away. Gwede followed to talk to him‚ alleging that he is disrupting the meeting."

Ace Magashule wants his say at Zondo commission and 'sing' beyond terms of reference

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule says he wants to testify before the Zondo commission of inquiry into alleged state capture, threatening that he will sing beyond the terms of reference of the commission.

Magashule was addressing members of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) at the Braam Fischer Building in Bloemfontein.

"I want to go to that commission‚ if I am so implicated. I want to go because if one goes there‚ one can relay many other stories‚" said a fired up Magashule.

The embattled former Free State premier has had his province come up a couple of times in the commission about‚ among other things‚ its advertising spent on the now defunct Gupta-owned media.

Magashule on Friday dared students to analyse ANC leaders "one by one" and check those who had business interests.

"If you want to check us as leaders‚ you must check who is in business and who is not in business‚" he said.

"Take us one by one and check which leader is proud of white people and then we must talk about capture."

Magashule's remarks appeared to be a veiled response to comments by President Cyril Ramaphosa‚ who this week lashed out at those "in dark corners or whoever come up with machinations of weakening the African National Congress".

Magashule said: "I am not a product of capital. Nobody will take me out of this ANC and I am not a product of a white person.

"There is no time to plot against the leadership of the organisation but there is also no leadership of the ANC which I am part of which is going to stop me and many others from meeting President (Jacob) Zuma‚" charged Magashule.

"In fact I can invite president Zuma to come and talk to you as Cosas‚" he added‚ also praising Zuma for delivering free education at tertiary level which "not everybody agreed to".

Jacob Zuma breaches protocol with secret trip to Doha

Former president Jacob Zuma sneaked out of SA this week for a mysterious meeting in Doha with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.

So hush-hush was the trip that neither the presidency, the department of international relations and co-operation (Dirco) nor the South African embassy in Doha were informed about it, as protocol dictates.

Former heads of state, who are viewed as still being part of the presidency, usually submit a memorandum or inform the presidency, Dirco and the South African embassy in the country they are visiting, detailing everything about the trip and who will be accompanying them, before undertaking any foreign travel. When they arrive, they are met by embassy officials who facilitate their smooth transfer and on-ground travel. 

None of this happened on this trip.

I wonder why?

Moerane report into political killings slammed

The report of the Moerane commission of inquiry into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal has been described as a "whitewash, weak and vague".

Whistle-blower Thabiso Zulu, a close friend of slain ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa, told Business Day after the release of the report by KwaZulu-Natal premier Willies Mchunu that the report did not offer anything new in its recommendations.

"The report is a whitewash and does not get to the bottom of why people are killed. It’s weak and vague and does not offer anything new from what we already know. It’s recommendations are vague and are not very far from what I already knew," he said.

The controversial report made broad recommendations, which included an urgent investigation into politicians, public officials and business people associated with corrupt activities in the public service.

The commission also recommended that an interministerial task force of the security cluster ministers set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa to look into political killings should immediately review the workings of the security agencies and the police.

It also recommended that political parties must:

Take responsibility for the violent competition between their members for political positions and power.

Immediately settle differences within and between themselves through peaceful means using negotiation, mediation and other consensus-building techniques to avoid the continuing murder of politicians and public officials.

Discipline their members whose conduct encourages or results in political intolerance and violence.

Zulu said he had expected the commission to recommend that all security companies ensure that firearms given to security guards were legal and that those people who carried them had permission to do so.

"We are aware that the majority of people who kill people are bodyguards by day and hitmen at night.

"What is also important is to check that people who are in security companies are registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority because these companies use security guards as bodyguards," said Zulu.

He said the Moerane report should have recommended that the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, in conjunction with state security and crime intelligence, should vet security guards.

The commission, Zulu said, should have focused on big tenders as dirty money used to hire hitmen come from them.

"The financial intelligence should raise red flags on suspicious transactions because these monies are withdrawn in cash and used to pay hitmen. I was hoping the commission would also touch on that, but it did not," said Zulu.

Zulu, who testified before the Moerane commission, blew the whistle about alleged corruption in the Umzimkhulu local municipality after he was given documents by Magaqa.

The alleged corruption involved a municipal tender at Umzimkhulu that ballooned from R4m to R37m.

He claimed it was this information that ultimately led to Magaqa’s murder.

Magaqa had passed on documentation to the Hawks that claimed to prove corruption in the tender for the upgrading of the Umzimkhulu Memorial Hall.

Public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is finalising her report on the alleged corruption.