state capture - The African Mirror

Apr

2024

State capture in South Africa: time to think differently about redress and recovering the stolen loot

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS, EDITORS CHOICE

SOUTH Africans are plunged into darkness daily by rolling power cuts. These are a stark reminder of the destruction that years of state capture wreaked on Eskom, the state-owned power utility. Eskom’s inability to meet the energy needs of citizens and the economy is now the undeniable example of how state capture made parastatals and other state institutions ineffective. The country urgently needs action to recover the stolen funds and fix the economy. So far, President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered only a few general targets, and outcomes have been dissatisfying. For example, the “total of R2.9 billion” that he said…

Mar

2022

By The African Mirror

Interpol red notice: what it means and why South Africa requested it

NEWS

THE International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has issued a red notice for two members of the wealthy but now disgraced Gupta family, Atul and Rajesh Gupta. This could now pave way for their arrest and extradition from the United Arab Emirates to face fraud and money laundering charges in South Africa. The Guptas – who at their height owned a business empire spanning computer equipment, media, and mining – are close friends of former President Jacob Zuma. A judicial commission of inquiry into state capture recently found that, with Zuma’s help, they orchestrated massive corruption. Thabo Leshilo asked Bernadine Benson…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Whistleblowers are key to fighting corruption in South Africa. It shouldn’t be at their peril

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

NUMEROUS corruption scandals have been reported in South Africa in recent times. The extent of corruption in the country has been laid bare at the judicial commission probing allegations of state capture over the past three years. Corruption can impede a country’s economic growth, and undermine democratic principles, stability and trust. MONRAY MARSELLUS BOTHA, Head of Department & Associate Professor, University of Pretoria Whistle-blowing is one of the mechanisms used to deter corruption. It plays a role in encouraging accountability, transparency and high standards of governance in both the private sector and public institutions. Whistleblowers help combat criminal conduct and…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Jacob Zuma: when did erstwhile South African revolutionary lose his way?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IT'S the small crimes that bring you down. Al Capone went merrily on his murdering way until the FBI nailed him for tax evasion. Richard Nixon seemed immune to the consequences of lying about Vietnam, Cambodia and Chile but his lies over the silly crime of burgling the Democratic Party’s headquarters did for him. GAVIN EVANS, Lecturer, Culture and Media department, Birkbeck, University of London So it is with Jacob Zuma South Africa’s former president. He faced multiple charges of corruption, but, so far, has avoided his day in court. He was tried for rape and acquitted. As president he…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Commission cost almost a R1-billion

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE judicial commission into state capture, theft and corruption in South Africa has cost the taxpayer almost R1-billion but its work has led to the recovery of over R864-million, chairperson of the commission, Deputy Judge President Raymond Zondo has revealed. In remarks at the media briefing, Zondo revealed that: The commission has, until yesterday, sat for 418 days hearing evidence.Transcripts of the hearing run into 71 000 pages.Over 300 witnesses have testified before the commission. Zondo said R864-million was recovered, as a result of the work of the commission and paid back to Eskom. Zondo expressed appreciation…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

‘CR17 millions were not used to buy votes’

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has today given an insight into the millions that were pumped into an internal election campaign which ended with him being elected as president of the governing party. Ramaphosa has flatly denied that the millions donated to his campaign were used to buy votes. On the 2nd day of his testimony at the Zondo Commission into state capture, Ramaphosa said those who managed his campaign - generally referred to as the CR17 campaign - took a deliberate decision to keep the identity of the donors from him so that he was not beholden…

Apr

2021

By The African Mirror

Gigaba’s wife summoned to testify

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER NORMA Gigaba, the estranged wife of former South African finance minister Malusi Gigaba has been summoned to testify at the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture after her 11th-hour cancellation of a scheduled appearance. Norma’s lawyer Gcwalisile Makhathini yesterday told Deputy Judge President Raymond Zondo that her decision to withdraw her participation in the commission. Makhathini said her client was not happy with how the commission has handled her scheduled appearance. Her withdrawal follows notice from her husband that he intended to apply for his wife’s testimony to be heard in camera. Norma’s testimony was expected…

Dec

2020

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s ex-leader Zuma ordered to reappear at graft inquiry

NEWS

SOUTH Africa's former President Jacob Zuma has been ordered to reappear at an inquiry into state corruption during his term after he abruptly left the proceedings last month, according to a summons issued by the head of the investigation. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is also asking the Constitutional Court, the highest legal authority in the land, to compel Zuma to attend and "account for his exercise of public power". In his second appearance at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture two weeks ago, Zuma had his application for the judge to recuse himself dismissed. Zuma then left proceedings…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Call for South African President to testify on role in state capture

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER ADVOCATE Vuyani Ngalwana, one of South Africa leading legal minds and an acting-judge in the high court, has called for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to be called to testify before the Zondo Commission about his role, when he was deputy president, in state capture. Ngalwana has written to the chairperson of the Commission, Deputy Judge President to make a case why Ramaphosa should be invited to testify. He has also called for Kgalema Motlanthe, a former deputy president to Zuma, to also be asked some questions at the commission. The acting-judge also expressed a view that…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

South African judge has refused to step down from corruption probe: this was the right call

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

DEPUTY Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, the head of the inquiry into allegations that the South African state was “captured” and repurposed to benefit private interests during former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure (May 2009 to February 2018), has dismissed Zuma’s application for his recusal. The former president, who stands accused of having facilitated grand corruption, had accused the judge of bias. Politics editor Thabo Leshilo asked Cathleen Powell for her insights. CATHLEEN POWELL, Associate Professor in Public Law, University of Cape Town Is the decision correct or not and why? The decision is correct, and it is the only principled decision…