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LIKE CAESAR’S WIFE, THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR MUST BE ABOVE SUSPICION

On 29 August 2023, Kholeka Gcaleka, who is the Acting Public Protector (APP), was nominated as the candidate to succeed the disgraced Busisiwe Mkhwebane as Public Protector (PP). Mkhwebane’s predecessor, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, demonstrated how the office of Public Protector could play a crucial role in holding to account state institutions that were suspected of improper conduct. Indeed, her fearless exposure of state capture under President Jacob Zuma played a pivotal role in forcing his resignation. Sadly, Mkhwebane did not continue this proud tradition and instead mired the office in unseemly controversy after controversy, racking up an unprecedented number of judicial rebukes in the process.

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DR MAVUSO MSIMANG PROVIDES A MASTERFUL DISPLAY OF ‘DISCRETION IN TACT’

In a recent interview with Alec Hogg of BizNews, Dr. Mavuso Msimang, the Deputy President of the ANC’s Veteran’s League, took issue with Anthea Jeffery’s epic analysis of the ANC’s National Democratic Revolution. He said that “in summary, the NDR is not inherently part of the ANC’s framework”. The ANC was not committed to socialism and was “more likely to follow the example of the Scandinavian countries, which are capitalist economies with strong social safety nets.”

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THE NINE LIVES OF JACOB ZUMA

On 11 August 2023, after serving just over an hour in the Estcourt Prison, former president Jacob Zuma was granted a “special remission” and walked out of prison a free man thanks to the transparent intervention of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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PLAYING WITH MATCHES IN THE GUNPOWDER STORE

Last Saturday, Julius Malema addressed a packed FNB stadium in Johannesburg to mark the 10th anniversary of the EFF. The scarlet-clad masses undulated to the rhythm of African music and the chanting of EFF slogans, while red and black balloons, confetti and streamers were discharged into the stadium. It was a cross between a rock concert, a soccer match and a religious revival.

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SIGN LANGUAGE ACT WELCOMED

On Wednesday 19 July, President Ramaphosa signed the South African Sign Language Act into law, a welcome step “to promote the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing”.

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PUBLIC PROTECTOR’S REPORT ON PHALA PHALA LEAVES MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED

On 30 June, Acting Public Protector (APP) Adv Kholeka Gcaleka released her final report on allegations that President Ramaphosa had violated the executive ethics code in connection with the theft at his Phala Phala farm in February 2020. The Report, issued in terms of Section 182(1)(b) of the Constitution, cleared President Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing.

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