President Jacob Zuma believes that the public protector’s report on state capture was a political tool meant to be used to deal with certain individuals. In an exclusive interview with ANN7 on Monday evening, Zuma spoke out about the state of capture report by former public protector Thuli Madonsela, in which she recommended that Zuma..
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State capture report a political tool – Zuma
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Treasury senior official calls it quits as Zuma takeover looms
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Michael Sachs, the head of the budgeting office at the national treasury, has reportedly resigned because of interference in its budgeting process by the presidency. The Business Day newspaper reported on Monday morning that “a joint team from the treasury and the Office of the president” are searching for R40-billion in expenditure cuts from the..
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The mafia state is in full swing
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There is no longer a crystal-clear difference between the current state of our democracy and the telltale signs of a mafia state. That, in its essence, is the nexus insight from Jacques Pauw’s new book, The President’s Keepers, which is why the responses from various parts of the ANC-led government and state are as hysterical..
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How you will pay for Zuma’s free education plan
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The government is considering drastic budget cuts to fund free higher education, including cutting social grants, freezing the roll-out of RDP houses and increasing taxes. With the country facing an unpre-cedented R50.8‑billion revenue hole, a treasury document has been put before President Jacob Zuma by the presidential fiscal committee, outlining possible areas where budgets could..
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Saudi tensions could increase SA fuel prices
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The recent political upheaval in Saudi Arabia will lead to South African motorists paying an additional 70 to 80 cents more for fuel in December. And there could be a further increase of about 60 cents in January if current tensions persists, says Econometrix chief economist Azar Jammine. Oil, which has traded at about $50..
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The State Security Agency makes second attempt to gag Jacques Pauw’s book
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The State Security Agency has sent yet another cease and desist letter to get The Presidents Keepers withdrawn from bookshelves, but this time the letter was sent to its title editor Russel Martin. Authur and veteran journalist Jacques Pauw announced during the official launch of his book that the SSA’s cease and desist letter gave..
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Treasury letter – Sassa should not have disqualified Post Office
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A letter by National Treasury to acting South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) CEO Pearl Bhengu says the agency should not have disqualified the South African Post Office (SAPO) from three possible services in the social grants scheme. Treasury was given a week last Wednesday to review all the deal points of the then-collapsing deal..
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Ben Martins denies Gupta ‘tea party’ with Eskom legal head
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Deputy Public Enterprises Minister Ben Martins has denied meeting suspended Eskom head of legal Suzanne Daniels with Ajay Gupta and Duduzane Zuma in a flat near Melrose Arch in 2017. “I am perplexed by Ms Suzanne Daniels’ testimony to the parliamentary inquiry into Eskom,” he said in a statement on Thursday. “She falsely claimed that..
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Sassa and Sapo agreement date pushed back yet again
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The striking of the elusive deal between the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the South African Post Office (Sapo) has been pushed back yet again. MP’s at a joint meeting in Parliament on Tuesday heard that an offer to the Post Office to build an integrated IT payment system for a new “hybrid”..
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Ronnie Kasrils asked Mbeki to stand for a third term to stop Zuma
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Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils says he asked former president Thabo Mbeki to contest for the role of ANC president in the lead up to the party’s Polokwane conference in an attempt to stop President Jacob Zuma from taking over the position. He made the comments last night at metalworkers’ union Numsa’s Vincent Mabuyakhulu conference..
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South Africa is held hostage to the toxic politics of the ANC
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If it showed anything, the recent medium-term budget policy statement has proven that South Africa does not have a government capable of dealing honestly and head on with the developmental crisis that the country finds itself in. It will not have such a government for some time, at least not until the 2019 general election..
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Mixed reaction to Cyril Ramaphosa’s ‘slate’ especially with Naledi Pandor as VP
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Deputy President, and one of the frontrunners for ANC leader, Cyril Ramaphosa will have a tough time convincing some of his supporters to throw their weight behind his preferred deputy ahead of the party’s December elective conference. The surprise announcement that he wants current ANC National Executive Committee member Naledi Pandor to be his deputy..
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State capture fiasco shows why collaboration is key to tackling global crime networks
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Lord Peter Hain tabled a series of allegations in the UK’s House of Lords relating to the possible role of British banks in alleged money laundering and illicit financial transactions centred around President Jacob Zuma and the Gupta family. The Conversation Africa’s Charles Leonard asked him to explain why he took the step. Hain, who..
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Ramaphosa takes an early lead as ANC branches cast their vote
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Of the 1 138 ANC branches (out of a total of about 3 800 branches in good standing) that had held their branch general meetings (BGMs) by Thursday, 768 nominated Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president Jacob Zuma’s successor and 360 nominated Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. All other presidential hopefuls — Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, ANC treasurer general Zweli..
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Road to December conference: Pandor announced as Ramaphosa’s running mate
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ANC Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed Naledi Pandor, the minister of science and technology, would be running as his deputy president candidate in the leadership campaign for the party’s elective conference to be held in Johannesburg this December. Ramaphosa was speaking at a rally at the Tafelkopp Stadium outside Groblersdal in Limpopo when he urged..
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