Does SA need a rich president? – Gayton McKenzie

2012-04-22 10:00

Gayton McKenzie

Besides the fact that it is probably next to impossible for someone who is dirt poor to suddenly get elected state president, this debate is more about whether the person will find that he or she actually needs the salary.

Sure, the salary is not bad, although even I have been paid more for doing far less in the private sector. And if in fact the president does need the salary, is this a good or bad thing?

Perhaps the idea is that a man with money will be less likely to be bribed once in office and perhaps be less eager to plunder public coffers. The problem, however, with this kind of thinking is that a rich man may already be owned by big business, and without the need for business to even have to make the effort to corrupt him. How are we to know?

There are endless examples in our history of rich men coming to power (rich men coming to power are in fact the norm) and then abusing that power to become even richer, and make their friends even richer.

In the USw America, for example, government decisions overwhelmingly favour big business and not everyday, average Americans.

Although Harvard-educated Barack Obama was not a poor man, half of his 2008 campaign contributions came from everyday, average and middle-class Americans who pledged small and big amounts to see him bring about change.

President Obama has been noticeably trying to make a difference to the lives of these people. He wasn’t born rich, wasn’t always rich, and without his salary, I doubt he would carry on doing the job.

And why should he?

Donald Trump has tried to run for US president from time to time. Despite his popularity, he always fails. He just doesn’t have the muscle born from years of political struggle.

Globally, heads of states are famously remunerated quite poorly. Tony Blair’s wife earned more than he did. She was a barrister; he was the prime minister.

He needed that money. He was a professional politician and had worked his way up the ranks. Getting the salary and the pension, albeit a humble one, was his reward for a lifetime of service to the state.

In 1997, India elected KR Narayanan, who came from India’s lowest caste, the Untouchables. This undid centuries of discrimination, but social change is still needed. South Africa is the same. Only a man who understands what poverty is is able to overcome the challenge it poses since he knows – intimately – his enemy.

Statistically, to stand a chance of being rich, you have to come from a rich family. Or you have to be an exceptional human being whose gift lies in making money. Being able to make money does not guarantee that you will be a good human being, and Ferial’s qualification that doing it for “the love” is no reassurance either.

A president who leads “out of love” may be very reluctant to step down, because he “loves” what he does too much. In any case, love is an irrational thing, and who wants someone irrational in charge?

The best presidents are often those who are reluctant to take the job because they know it’s one hell of a tough job, and it’s a largely thankless task. To be a crummy dictator – well, now, that’s easy. I would love to be a dictator. I would hate to be a long-suffering servant of the people.

And that is why a president should need the salary we pay him. He is a public servant.

He works for us. If he doesn’t do a good job, he might in any case go on a fat pension for the rest of his days, but if we so demand, we could impeach him.
A president who doesn’t need or care for the salary we pay him may just not need or care for us.

The bottom line is that a rich person could be as great or even a greater president than one from poor, humble stock. But to simply presuppose being rich as a matter of principle is something that smacks of class discrimination. And class discrimination leads to civil war.

» McKenzie is a millionaire businessman and former bank robber

Gayton McKenzie on The Best T In The City

Gayton McKenzie on The Best T In The City

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Gayton McKenzie is a South African motivational speaker and author. McKenzie has turned his back on crime after spending time in jail. After his release, he went on national campaign to combat ever-higher levels of crime in South Africa. McKenzie talks to school children, parents and business people. Thus far, he has reached millions of them and was voted the country’s top corporate speaker for the last three years.

Catch Gayton McKenzie on My Top 10

Uproar over Times journo’s sexual frolics with ‘Sushi King’

THERE KENNY: Kenny Kunene the ‘Sushi King’ and Times of Swaziland Entertainment Editor, Ntombi Mhlongo Social network site Facebook is abuzz with comments over a picture of Kenny Kunene the ‘Sushi King’ and Times of Swaziland Entertainment Editor, Ntombi Mhlongo. The picture was taken last August during the Bikers Party at the Mavuso Sports Café which had been attended by former Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Macford Sibandze. Over 60 comments were received after the picture was posted on Facebook’s gossip forum ‘Umgosi Eswatini’ from last Thursday. Most of the comments are derogatory against the entertainment editor. Facebook users have attacked Mhlongo but she hasn’t responded to any of these comments. In the picture, Mhlongo is dressed in a denim mini-skirt with a matching jacket, and reacts somewhat happily as Kunene frolics with her in full view of the public. Kunene appears to have his hand inside her skirt. The ‘Sushi King’ seems unmoved as Mhlongo smiles from ear to ear. Users have insinuated that the picture was photo-shopped whereas others dismiss that notion. Swazi girls were labelled as ‘cheap’ on Facebook, following their antics on Kunene’s reality show ‘So What?’ that is currently airing on e-TV. The episode, which featured Kunene’s trip to the country, shows snippets of him in his bedroom with some Swazi girls posing near his bed. The 30-minute reality series showed all ‘Sushi King’s movements while he was in the country -from his arrival at the plush Happy Valley Resorts to the Biker’s Party at the Mavuso Sports Bar. Facebook comments n A member of the welcoming committee in good standing n Ewu ds s d Ntombi Sushi Queen... n Awu???? n hhawu n A whole editor. n This is a DISGRACE..honestly.. I am disappointed!! n Damaged goods...walking wounded...factory faults....Nx. n Uze losisi utsi haleluya,,,,,yini kona lolokushuthe nalosisi webanftu? n You have let us down as women in the whole wide world,specially in Africa, who in her sane mind gets(f*****) in everyone's view, you are a disgrace woman..why didn't you at least book a room or something ngoba that sushi guy is loaded? n This pic has been photoshopped with Adobe Photoshop 7.0, I checked with my computer...

Confusion as 'Sushi King' Kenny Kunene probed for fraud

Confusion as 'Sushi King' Kenny Kunene probed for fraud
GLYNNIS UNDERHILL Mar 23 2012 00:00
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Allegations that former convicts Kenny Kunene and Gayton McKenzie defrauded poor Sowetan communities by persuading them to participate in a mining rights application for Central Rand Gold in Johannesburg are being investigated.

However, there is widespread confusion over the status of the police investigation.

The Mail & Guardian was reliably informed that the National Prosecuting Authority initially declined to prosecute the matter, although it denied the claim this week. The Hawks have conducted their own investigation into the accusations, but the NPA said it had not seen their docket.

"No one seems to know about this matter," said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.

But the NPA's asset forfeiture unit has now also initiated a probe, according to a source who is familiar with the details of the case. If the unit finds there is a case to be made against the two men, it can apply to the high court to seize their assets, which include a number of supercars.

This week Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela told the M&G that the unit had investigated accusations against Kunene and McKenzie involving the Central Rand Gold mining deal.

"We have done an investigation. However, our protocol doesn't allow us to give updates on ongoing investigations."

Sushi King is well-connected
Kunene, who served six years in jail for fraud, is well known for his ZAR nightclub in Cape Town -- the one in Johannesburg closed recently. He is regularly seen in the club and gained notoriety for eating sushi there off scantily dressed models, earning him the title of South Africa's Sushi King. His friends include members of President Jacob Zuma's family and influential ANC politicians.

By contrast, McKenzie, who spent seven years in jail for two counts of armed robbery, is a professed family man and prefers the quiet life, although he drives a Porsche and gives motivational speeches. He became friends with Kunene in jail.

CONTINUES BELOW



The communities involved in the mining application are not going to let the matter rest. They believe they were defrauded because the two men solicited their participation in the gold prospecting and mining application with promises of jobs and contracts, which failed to materialise.

Godfrey Makomene, the leader of one of the communities, said they were on the verge of raising the money to hire lawyers to take their case to court. They had heard nothing about official investigations.

"The police have never interviewed us," he said. "We have not heard of any developments.

"We were offered a 10% stake in Central Rand Gold, which is recorded in its application for mining rights and the memorandum of understanding between us. We were promised jobs and contracts. But we got nothing."

Company raises billions
Thirteen communities signed the memorandum of understanding with Central Rand Gold as part of its mining licence application, which was accompanied by a social labour plan. The company raised more than R1-billion after listing on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges in 2007.

Central Rand Gold is currently embroiled in litigation over financial disputes with its empowerment partner, Puno Gold Investments.

Makomene said that, because the communities were poor, their complaints were being ignored.

Among the key allegations Makomene made was that community members were encouraged to open companies to make procurements and gain tenders. What happened to these companies should be of interest to the police, he said.

Kunene was given the title of executive of communities by Central Rand Gold and was put in charge of procurement, Makomene said.

McKenzie apparently held the title of chief corporate strategist for Central Rand Gold.

They were both reported to have earned huge salaries and were apparently given a R4-million bonus in 2009 for securing the mining rights quickly. The men have not worked for Central Rand Gold for the past 18 months.

Makomene said that since then 100 companies had been deregistered. He claimed they had been used for money laundering.

Locals haven't seen of social labour plan
Mark Diggars, a community leader who lives across a freeway from the Central Rand Gold mine, said the local people had not even seen the social labour plan, although it was said that it had been signed by community members without their knowledge.

"We are still waiting for our 10% shareholding," he said. "They are all just bluffing."

Neither Kunene nor McKenzie could be reached for comment and they did not respond to emails.

But both responded at length to emailed questions from the M&G last year about how they had acquired their wealth after leaving prison.

McKenzie said he had access to "investor capital worth millions of dollars".

"I am working towards my first billion. I will let you know when I get there."

McKenzie said he had gone from consulting on security concerns at Central Rand Gold -- "after all," he said, "who better to spot security weaknesses than an ex-bank robber" -- to advising the board on how to approach both the government and communities if they wanted to mine in Johannesburg.

Kunene said they had both become involved at Central Rand Gold as key executives. "The two of us played a strong role in the process of that mine applying for its mining rights."

Gold company 'going strong'
In late September last year, gold prospecting and mining company Central Rand Gold was forced to halt operations because of a decision by the minister of mineral resources, Susan Shabangu, to cancel its mining right.

According to the department, the company had violated two conditions relating to the mining work programme and its social labour plan.

This month, however, Central Rand Gold said the decision had been set aside by the court.

The company's chief executive, Johan du Toit, said it ran a "transparent operation", as a listed company was forced to do.

He said he was content with Central Rand Gold's progress, because it had increased its production by 60% in 2011, despite the temporary cancellation of its mining right. The company mines under Johannesburg.

Du Toit said Central Rand Gold was in the process of employing 225 people and the situation for the company had stabilised.

"Last year was a real tough year for us."

Du Toit said Kenny Kunene and Gayton McKenzie had done "a great job" for Central Rand Gold in coordinating its social labour plan and he was not aware of a police investigation.

Du Toit confirmed he had lent Kunene R1-million to start up his ZAR nightclubs. But, he said, the "Sushi King" had repaid the money. -- Glynnis Underhill

'I do' Zizi and Zama tie the Kodwa knot in style

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PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma's communications adviser Zizi Kodwa's nuptials had all the trappings of a fairy tale wedding: celebrities, powerful politicians and a giant white marquee set up in Durban's picturesque Botanical Gardens.

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Ex-youth league money man seals it with a kiss
Zizi Kodwa to tie the knot in sumptuous style

A carpet of peach and cream rose petals created an aisle to a gazebo on the banks of the lake where Kodwa, 42, and Zama Ngubane, 26, exchanged vows in front of more than 500 guests.

They included President Jacob Zuma, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj, Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Pemmy Majodina and ANC funder Roy Moodley.

There were interested glances when suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele and his wife, Thembeka, arrived.

There was an army of police officers, and the presidential protection unit carried out security checks throughout the morning.

The media, seated in designated areas, were given just 10 minutes to take pictures of the couple and decor.

Other VIP guests included Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, former speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, suspended ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, and a host of cabinet ministers, including Minister of Human Settlements Tokyo Sexwale. Socialites Kenny Kunene and Khanyi Mbau were also on the list.

Kodwa arrived in a white Porsche Panamera shortly after Zuma's black chauffeur-driven 7-series BMW, which was accompanied by armed members of the presidential protection unit.

Ngubane arrived in a white Rolls-Royce Phantom.

The former model wore a white and silver gown by award-winning designer Ephraim Molingoana.

Her six bridesmaids wore pink cocktail dresses.

The groom's entourage and best man wore grey suits with pink pocket handkerchiefs. All the outfits were designed by Molingoana.

The service was conducted by ANC chaplain the Rev Vukile Mahana and guests were entertained with traditional Xhosa songs.

When the couple exchanged wedding bands, Kodwa gave his bride a tanzanite and platinum ring.

In the marquee, the tables were covered with peach rose petals and sported centrepieces that included miniature crystal chandeliers.

Siyanda Mwandla, one of the wedding coordinators, described the ceremony as "simple yet elegant".

The menu featured a variety of traditional dishes. Caterer Gary Clayton said Kodwa had wanted a simple but "scrumptious" menu.

"The menu included a lot of Zizi's favourite dishes ... including roast beef served with gravy, samp and beans with tripe, and traditional Durban mutton curry," he said.

The menu also featured lasagne, roast chicken served with paprika, potato salad, Mediterranean vegetables, and a simple Greek salad.

The dessert included a variety of fruit salad dishes.

Kodwa and Ngubane had kept details of their wedding secret beforehand as, they said, it was a private affair.

Central Rand Gold reprieve rockets share price

DMR says no formal settlement yet.

JOHANNESBURG - Much beleaguered and controversial miner, Central Rand Gold (CRG) (JSE:CRD), said it had come to an agreement with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to set aside its decision to cancel the company’s mining right.

The company’s share price rocketed upwards of 200% during the day on the news.

DMR spokesperson, Zingaphi Jakuja, said that there was “no formal settlement” and that “DMR lawyers and CRG lawyers are speaking and we cannot at this stage reveal further details.”

The final decision ratifying the agreement reached between the DMR and CRG is to be made on December 22 in the High Court by way of an unopposed consent order CRG said.

CRG said it will continue to discuss its social and labour development plans with the DMR in order to agree a plan that is more appropriate for CRG's revised mining plans.

Patrick Malaza, CFO of CRG, said its revised mine plan makes provision for a much smaller scale mine and expects production to increase from 1 500oz per month to approximately 6 to 7 000oz per month by 2013. The operations are currently producing around 1 000oz per month Malaza said.

The original mining right application assumed more than 50 000oz per month.

The DMR cancelled CRG’s mining right in September citing non-compliance to its social and labour plan, mining work programme and environmental management programme. This was subsequently suspended in October pending the finalisation of review proceedings allowing it to resume mining operations.

CRG committed to expenditure of R32.9m in the first two years of its social and labour plan (SLP) but only spent R18.8m citing lower staff numbers and unavailability of suitable land. The reduction it said was due to a change in mining plan concomitant with acid mine drainage issues.

Malaza said “Our reason for not fully complying with our SLP programme was because we were forced into a corner due to unrealised mine production. Our original plan foresaw production of 4.2moz over five to six years but this has not been the case as most of our resources are under water.”

Malaza said “the water was always there but we thought that a solution could be found”.

The situation worsened substantially in November 2008 when there was a fatality at another miner’s pump station and it was shut down. The effect has been that water levels have increased from 1 000m to 500m below surface Malaza said.

Malaza said a solution is expected by August next year as the pumps purchased to remove the water would take six to seven months to install. Malaza confirmed it has taken delivery of the pumps and is busy with a tender process to appoint someone by January or February to proceed with installation.

Godfrey Makunene, a director for the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE), said that the potential setting aside of the cancellation of Central Rand Gold’s (CRG) mining right is not welcomed and would be a bad decision.

Makunene said “the interest of management is to misuse investors’ money for their own benefit” and “people have lost confidence from a community point of view.”

“The company has failed to honour their commitments and they come up with all sorts of plans that are unproductive” Makunene said.

CRG’s dotted history includes reports of excessive expenditure, bearish production forecasts, and associations with renowned sushi king Kenny Kunene and Gayton McKenzie. An ongoing dispute with its BEE shareholder (Puno Gold Investments (Pty) Ltd) and local community dissent are also part of the controversy surrounding the company.

The miner said last month that there was still no resolution to its dispute with Puno Gold and it had filed court papers. The dispute relates to funding provisions in terms of a shareholder agreement.

The filing seeks to discharge an interdict that prohibits CRG from calling on an option to acquire Puno's entire shareholding. Alternatively, CRG requested permission to proceed with arbitration.

If the application is unopposed, the hearing is expected to commence tomorrow.

Malaza said “We are waiting for confirmation but think they [Puno] have responded, in which case it won’t take place now but only in January or February next year.”

A vision betrayed

When Pixley ka Isaka Seme placed advertisements in African newspapers such as Tsala ea Becoana in late 1911, urging all “sections of our native people ... to send able representatives to that conference of the races” scheduled for January 8 1912 in Bloemfontein, he proposed the agenda for the gathering. It included the following:

Setting up the SA Native Congress ; writing a constitution for the new organisation; electing office bearers; installing elected officials to their positions; and taking a vote of confidence in Louis Botha, the prime minister of the Union of South Africa, and Henry Burton, the minister of native affairs. Part of the meeting was to be devoted to a general discussion. This would be followed by a concert and a farewell reception.

The topics for the general discussion were: “Native customs and usages , native marriages and divorce, native beer — is it a national beverage?, native schools and churches, the black and white peril, native lands and reserves, native courts civil and criminal, and native labour.”

It is not known how faithfully the 60- odd delegates who gathered in Bloemfontein that January to found an organisation we today know as the African National Congress (ANC) adhered to Seme’s proposed agenda. We do know, however, thanks to historian Andre Odendaal, that there was spirited debate among the delegates over the organisation’s original chosen name: South African Native National Congress (SANNC).

Sol Plaatje, editor of Tsala ea Becoana and one of four newspaper editors present at the conference, wanted a more African-sounding name, something that would have meaning in both the Nguni and Sotho language groups. Plaatje’s motion failed; the delegates voted to stick with the SANNC. The name was changed in 1925 to the ANC.

But expect more than the agenda to be different when the ANC celebrates its centenary in January as the oldest liberation movement in Africa, and then holds its 53rd annual conference in Bloemfontein, called Mangaung in Sotho, in December next year. For one, the ANC will meet in Mangaung as a ruling party, one that will have been in power for 18 years by then. Two, expect the profile of the organisation’s leadership and membership to be both different and much bigger: whereas the ANC had about 60 delegates (all African) at its founding, the Mangaung conference is likely to have more than 2000 delegates, a (very) small number of them white, Indian and coloured and many of them women.

More importantly, whereas the men who founded the ANC were colonial subjects and part of SA’s tiny but modern African elite, the men and women who will gather in Mangaung next year will all be modern citizens, bearers of rights that only a few of the ANC’s original founders enjoyed.

For example, one reason there were so few delegates at the ANC’s founding conference is that colonial officials made it difficult for Africans to travel. Speaking at a meeting with JW Sauer, the railways minister, shortly after the ANC’s establishment, Sefako Makgatho, the ANC’s first vice-president, complained about delegates who had been hurled off the train in Brandfort, in the Orange Free State, while en route to the Bloemfontein conference.

People like Makgatho, Seme and Plaatje were called in the official parlance of colonial SA “exempted natives” — meaning they did not have to live under such restrictions as, among others, the pass laws. As a (largely self)-educated and property-owning resident of Kimberley and citizen of the Cape Colony, Plaatje was among the few Africans who actually could vote in colonial SA .

So, Mangaung 2012 will mark a significant advance on Bloemfontein 1912. The conference next year will be testament to the ANC’s success as a political organisation.

That, however, is the positive side.

There is a negative side to Mangaung 2012.

When Seme called for the establishment of a national political organisation for Africans, he wanted Africans to slay the “demon of tribalism”. Seme said “the aberration of the Xhosa-Fingo feud, the animosity that exists between the Zulus and [the] Tonga, the Basothos and every other native must be buried and forgotten, it has shed among us sufficient blood. We are one people!”

Seme believed that lack of unity among Africans was making it impossible for them to speak with one voice when confronted with the depredations of the colonial state.

The ANC was not the first organisation founded by Africans in colonial SA to fight for their political rights. The Transvaal Native Congress and the Cape Native Congress, to give just two examples, were much older. But the ANC was the first national organisation to bring together Africans from around the country. It was the first organisation to try to speak with one voice about the concerns of Africans. If its early success is to be measured by whether it succeeded in slaying the demon of tribalism and forging African unity, the answer must be a guarded yes. The ANC survived years of colonial disdain and apartheid repression by speaking for Africans in particular and for freedom- loving South Africans in general. It was able to win power in 1994 as a truly national organisation — despite its general lack of support among white South Africans of all classes and, to some extent, working-class Indians and coloureds.

It could be argued, however, that, contrary to slaying the demon of tribalism, the ANC merely tamed it. One only has to listen to stories about tribal cliques in exile to know that the demon never really went away. There is certainly no doubt that since the beginning of President Jacob Zuma’s troubles with the law and with his predecessor Thabo Mbeki, it has made a forceful comeback inside the ANC. We saw it in Zuma’s “100% Zuluboy” campaign, where Zuma sought to portray his aborted and failed prosecution for corruption and rape as tribalist persecution, part of a conspiracy driven by dark forces to prevent a Zulu from becoming ANC and SA president.

The return of the demon was definitely confirmed in 2009 when, in Zuma’s first election campaign as ANC president, the party lost votes in every province except KwaZulu Natal. The 100% Zuluboy slogan scooped up the Zulu vote in his home province, largely at the expense of the hapless Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), previously the cultural and political home of conservative Zulu nationalism. The ANC’s decimation of the IFP helped the ruling party hide the fact that only a substantial Zulu vote had allowed it to keep up its national share of the vote. The ANC under Zuma has in fact become a more Zulu party, if by that we understand nothing more and nothing less than that Zuma’s ANC has increased its share of the vote of people who identify themselves as Zulu while dropping support from those who do not .

What happens, then, when the ANC elects a non-Zulu as its next president? What is going to happen to the Zulu vote that flocked to the ANC in 2009 for no good reason except that Zuma was 100% Zulu and a homeboy? Where are those votes going to go? Will they go back to the IFP or, worse, will they find an outlet in KwaZulu Natal’s secessionist streams, which have always been stronger than those in other parts of the country?

This, in short, is the challenge that confronts the ANC. But it is by no means the only one. Led by a president with no obvious interest in ideas or their power (despite his years in the leadership of the SA Communist Party — the supposed party of ideas) the ANC is today an organisation bereft of them. It is a party without collective imagination. How different that is to the ANC in its early years.

The men who founded the ANC were not angels. Neither were they democrats in the full sense in which we would understand and use the term today. They were colonial elites who believed in a qualified franchise. They took for granted the imperial claim that Africa was a land of darkness and that Africans were at least 2000 years below Europeans on the ladder of civilisation. They adhered fervently to the so-called civilising mission of the imperial and colonial enterprise. Above all, they were loyal subjects of the British Crown.

But they were men of ideas. They respected knowledge and fought for the education of Africans. Through their campaigns for the extension of the qualified franchise, the education of Africans and against segregation, they were able to shame the imperial government and the colonial state.

This does not mean they succeeded in their campaigns. Despite sending numerous deputations to London, for example, to plead with the imperial government on behalf of Africans, they did not succeed. But they were able to hold the British up to their much-vaunted belief in fairness. They were able to show up the hypocrisy of the colonial enterprise. They did this by presenting their own ideas, by asking why it was, for example, that the British were failing to live up to the claims of the civilising mission, which had promised acceptance into the colonial political order of any African who could show, by means of education and industry, improvement and civilisation.

These men were the forefathers of the ANC activists who proclaimed in 1955 that SA belonged to all who lived in it, black and white, and that no government could claim legitimacy unless it was founded on the will of the people.

It is easy to forget, 17 years since SA became a democracy, just what a radical claim that was at the time. It was radical precisely because it offered a vision of the future vastly different from that offered by successive apartheid governments and the colonial state before them. That inclusive vision of the future sustained the anti-apartheid movement and helped give the ANC and the freedom movement in general the moral victory it scored so decisively . Remember that a moral victory against apartheid was the only victory available to the ANC and its allies, none of which had the military means to take on the SA Defence Force.

The moral capital that accrued from the ANC’s righteous fight has been frittered away in corruption scandal after corruption scandal, and in a bitter, low- intensity civil war in the ANC .

The ANC may argue that, far from being without ideas, it has produced a slew of them: RDP (the reconstruction and development programme), Gear (growth, employment and redistribution), Asgisa (the accelerated and shared growth initiative for SA), cadre deployment, transformation, the national development plan, the new growth plan, and so forth. The only trouble with these plans is that they have what in township Zulu we might call a bamba-yeka — clutching-at-straws — quality about them. Compressed into an alphabet soup, these ideas read more like recipes that are constantly being changed, all because the kitchen staff does not know if it is coming or going (the chef, Zuma, is Awol). SA deserves better than this.

Come January, there will be birthday parties galore all right — many involving the corrupt use of public funds. Some of these celebrations will be tacky affairs organised no doubt by the likes of sushi king Kenny Kunene, a convicted and celebrated criminal (at least within certain circles) who helped organise the wedding of one of Zuma’s daughters not so long ago. Kunene’s qualification for the job ? None other than that he can do tacky like no one else among the class of tenderpreneurs whose ostentatious display of easy wealth and conspicuous consumption have come to stand, sadly, for black success in Zumaland.

Will next year’s celebrations of the ANC’s centenary be the beginning of the end of the ANC? Seme and his colleagues founded the ANC because they could imagine a better world, albeit one in which there was justice for all with certain qualifications. This vision was enriched and broadened from the 1940s onwards. It would be too easy to resort to cliché at this point and claim that Seme and Plaatje must be turning in their graves. Easier still is to point out that Zuma is presiding over an ANC with neither imagination nor ability to think of a better world. That is the greatest betrayal of them all.

Jacob Dlamini

A box of treats

December 15 2011 at 09:39am
By Debashine Thangevelo and Munyaradzi Vomo
Comment on this story

DRAMA

It’s so hard to say goodbye… to the Walker family, but we did. After five fantastic seasons of Brothers and Sisters, we couldn’t help but be completely immersed in the family and relationship woes of the tight- knit family from Pasadena, with Nora (Sally Field) being the glue as the meddlesome, albeit endear-ingly so, mother. With a stellar cast of Rachel Griffiths, Calista Flockhart, Rob Lowe and Patricia Wettig, among others, delivering such sterling performances in what was arguably one of the most engagingly pertinent family dramas of our time, it was difficult for fans to let go.

This show should have come with a defibrillator… as the intense plots of Grey’s Anatomy certainly left aficionados strug-gling to breathe. One of the most-talked about episodes was centred on a heavily pregnant Callie after her car accident. The Glee-twist struck a chord with viewers. Although the drama, at times, bore the stamp of a soap, it was a captivating seventh season. By the way, season eight airs on M-Net on January 16. And, just so you know, Patrick Dempsey isn’t leaving the show – he was apparently misquoted.

Fighting the good fight… is veteran actress Kathy Bates as criminal defence lawyer Harriet “Harry” Korn in Harry’s Law. After being fired from her top-level post, Harry, operating from a rundown shoe store, offers legal help to a needy community in Cincinnati. Bates’ trademark chutzpah bolsters the appeal of this show. The script is razor-sharp, with character quirks thrown in for good measure.

While on the subject, the fourth instalment of Damages, with Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, was lapped up by TV buffs because of the underlying elements of danger and deception, combined with the high-stakes as Patty goes all out to take down some of the most influential figures in the US.

Making history… were The Borgias and Game of Thrones. The former, spearheaded by Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander V1, was lapped up by viewers. The story documents his rise to power, with the help of his family, and is imbued with sex, bribery, backstabbing and an ambition that borders on destructive.


Meanwhile, the first season of Game of Thrones boosted audience ratings. This medieval fantasy drama was addictive. Featuring a captivating cast, the story, set in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, follows the power struggle for the throne. The pervading debauchery intertwined with incestuous affairs and homosexuality proved too titillating to miss. Now we anxiously await the follow-up series.

Down and out… and utterly Shameless about it! That’s William H Macy in his new role as Frank Gallagher, who is in a constant drunken stupor and leaves his six children to care for themselves… and him.

While this show debuts on the small screen on Tuesday, it has already received rave reviews. A dramedy that is most intoxicating.

ACTION/SCI-FI

To serve and protect… that’s the foundation of the Reagan family of police officers in Blue Bloods (pictured). While crime dramas abound, this show ingratiated itself with viewers by merging the perso-nal and professional worlds of one family.

There is no denying that Tom Selleck was a big drawcard, but that isn’t discounting the nimbly written script and the sterling efforts of the supporting cast.


The mystery deepens… in the Canadian TV series, Haven. Loosely based on Stephen King’s book The Colorado King, this story looks at the strange supernatural events that transpire in Haven.

The investigation is lead by Nathan, the new chief of police, and Audrey, a former FBI agent. Simply put, Haven is as captivating and hair-raising as Supernatural and Fringe.

Corruption runs supreme… in Boardwalk Empire. Quality programming abounds in this series (with Steve Buscemi cast as Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, the crooked treasurer of Atlantic County), which is co-executive produced by Martin Scorsese. It is a stylish saga that explores the fraudulent underbelly of the city during the Prohibition era. This critically acclaimed series has been renewed for a third season.

Remakes are on the rise… and sure-fire hits. The two that come to mind are: Hawaii Five-O and Nikita. In the former show, with Alex O’Loughlin cast in the lead role as Steve McGarrett, a former Navy Seal and the Lieutenant Commander of the Five-O task force, he left viewers weak-kneed. And he is a damn brilliant actor too. As for Maggie Q, our renegade agent in Nikita, she is sexy and lethal – a powerful combination. Unlike V, which should have never been resurrected, these remakes have won over fans of the originals as well as a new generation.

You want to sink your teeth… into Vampire Diaries. The Salvatore brothers, Damon and Stefan, may have chalk-and-cheese personalities, but they are a united front… and they happen to be in love with the same woman – Elena. And they are seriously hot! The plot unfailingly leaves viewers on tenterhooks, waiting to see what curve ball the writers will be throwing their way next. The series continues to gain momentum and has left die-hard fans thirsty for the next instalment.

COMEDY


Just your average dysfunctional American family… meander down a rib-tickling path in the Emmy Award-winning show Modern Family. Centred on three interrelated families, the scriptwriters also tackle several ethnic and homosexual stereotypes. The comical situations that arise from the brilliantly written script make this an all-around winner.

In being boys… The Inbetweeners took viewers down memory lane. This BBC comedy was centred on a group of high school friends as they tried to figure out girls, deal with their raging hormones and, at the same time, also focus on getting good grades. The themes were universal and inevitably left viewers in tears with the side-splitting humour as the friends tried to “fit in”.

It’s dark… but you will like it. I am, of course, referring to The Big C with Laura Linney as Catherine “Cathy” Jamison. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, the teacher and mother of a teenager boy refuses to allow it to get the better of her and tackles life with renewed vigour.

Her family aren’t the only ones who notice a change in her… although they find it a bit strange. In taking a rather gloomy subject and mixing it with humour, and a smidgen of irreverence to go with Cathy’s willfulness, they ensured the prognosis was favourable.

So much so it made it to season three.

On the prowl… Courteney Cox had no trouble finding her prey with Cougar Town as the bait. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of this show, but it is critic-proof. Forget How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Cox offers a more laughable side to rusty dating. Recently divorced, she finds it’s a far cry from what she imagined, despite the help of her “girlfriends”.


A men-acing Sheen… caused one of the biggest TV controver-sies this year when his slandering of producer and co-creator Chuck Lorre saw him lose his job. In calling Lorre a “clown and a stupid, stupid little man”, he was subsequently replaced on Two and a Half Men by Ashton Kutcher. Hullabaloo aside, it is still one phenomenal show.

VARIETY SHOWS

The I Am A Relationship Expert, Yet Multiple Divorcee Award goes to all the celebrities who are invited to The Marriage Ref panel. I used to think there was something about this show until Eva Longoria popped up to give her advice to a troubled couple. We may love to love our celebrities, but not to follow whatever they say.

The We Don’t Have Any Holy Cows Here, Everyone Is Fair Game Award goes to Headlines. So Khuli Roberts is notorious for being crude in her interviews, but every time local celebrities see her at events they hope she’ll come their way and she feeds off that. Having Trevor Gumbi take some shots at the subject in question keeps the show fresh. Well done.

The We Are Unique Shows Offering Never-Before-Seen Concepts Award is a draw between Masters of Rhythm, Step Up or Step Out, Jam Alley: Crew vs Crew and Turn it Out. Seriously, why do these shows even exist? SA might have a great dance culture, but these shows fail to capture that, or remain different from each other.

The You Can Have 90 Days Of My Life In Exchange For Booze, Food And A Little Fame Award goes to all the Big Brother entrants. The question is: where are they now? Only one person won the prize money, but even he fell into oblivion as if the whole thing never happened. As for the rest, all they do now is RSVP to events and sip on free booze.


The You Don’t Have To Be Pretty To Impress Us With Your Talent Award goes to The Voice. Forget that the name of the show sounds like that of a newspaper, it is a great concept. Unlike other talent shows where the “total package” is translated to mean “No Ugly Contestants”, The Voice takes away the vanity aspect and replaces it with objectivity. Two thumbs up.

LOCAL

The We’ve Got Jokes For Days Award goes to LOL (pictured). The previous season of this show was a strange one. When M-Net is stran-ded and needs to air something, it is cringe-worthy to see the so-called jokes that were told back then.

So it is a huge relief that Rapulana Seiphemo’s team have greatly improved the quality of the show, making it more relevant to viewers today.

The We’ve Been Telling The Same Story For Yonks, But Still Got You Glued Award goes to Soul City. Some great shows have come and gone, but few, if any, have thrived as long as Soul City has. We are talking 11 incredible seasons and still the story goes on. Well done to all involved and here’s to 11 more.

The Knock Knock Who’s There? Award goes to Opening Guys, a show that brought young, unknown comedians into the limelight, making them household names overnight. Now people such as Tall Ass Mo, Mo Jack and Mpho have a fan base to talk about. The newbies can be seen doing their own solos and also appear in TV ads.

The Don’t Talk To Me, Talk To My Lawyer Award goes to Sokhulu and Partners. These guys make getting in trouble with the law look so cool. With the team doing thorough research on their stories, some of which are based on true events, the content never gets boring.

You have to wonder why the rest of the so-called local crime dramas do not make for viewing as good as this.

The Reality Check Is Long Overdue Award goes to Intersexions. The deep Akin Omotso narration that goes with this programme is the first thing that sends chills down your spine.

The show sets itself apart from others of its ilk because it has a unique way of approaching the much-dreaded subject of HIV/Aids. You will be shaken up for days after watching it.

REALITY

The I Made My Millions Through Selling Fish And Now I Have My Own Reality TV Show Award goes to flamboyant businessman Kenny Kunene’s So What? Honestly, so you blow a couple of hundreds of thou-sands every weekend and some commissioning editor thinks that’s something worth making into a television show? Kunene is the apt definition of New Money and it’s only a matter of time until he starts hanging out with Mandla Thembu in Brokesville.

The Ugly Girls Need Some Loving, Too, Award goes to Diamond in the Ruff. Okay, “ugly” is a harsh word, let’s try “rejects” from other beauty contests. Kudos to the producers of this show because now the girl who is a little short, or little on the plus side, also gets noticed. Some of us never liked those thin gals anyway.

The I Made It And You Can All Follow Me And See How I Live Award goes to Top Shayela (pictured). First, our artists/ celebrities are poor. Let’s just get that out of the way. So for Top Shayela to try and pull an MTV Cribs on us is actually laughable. And, say, for interest’s sake you do have that money, why would you want to show it off? Does that bring investors, or only attract thieves? The funny thing is, once the money is gone the same people do not want the media to touch them.

The We Are Tired Of Being Backing Acts At Gigs Award goes to Running With the Reps. Who, you might ask? Okay, Vuzu had aired a programme about a bunch of dancers who used to back Jozi and various other hip hop artists. The young dancers then cooked up the idea of a reality show where we see their behind-the-scenes lives. Sigh, and sigh again.

The Sister, Sister Act Award goes to Hlelo and Ntando Masina’s Blame It On Fame, which was not a bad idea and not badly executed either. Like it or not, the girls are famous enough to carry off the show’s title. Let’s just hope e.tv does not pull a fast one on the twins and replace them next season.

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DStv highlights - December 15, 2011

December 15 2011 at 08:35am

Independent Newspapers
Business tycoon Kenny Kunene
l Redi on Mzansi, Mzansi Magic, 19.30

Dr Shingai Mutambirwa talks to Redi about men’s sexual health. On the doctor’s couch are sushi king Kenny Kunene, DJ Fresh and actor Sello Maake ka Ncube.

l I Faked My Own Death, Discovery ID, 20.00

Brings viewers first-person accounts from individuals who staged their own deaths. Family and friends, thinking they’d never see their loved ones again, received the shock of their lives when their dearly departed were found alive, months, years and even decades after disappearing. Building secret new lives for themselves, they were desperate not to get caught, but would eventually be forced to admit: “I faked my own death”.

l THS Casey Anthony, E! Entertainment, 22.00

For three years, millions stayed focused on this shocking story – how two-and-a-half-year-old Caylee Anthony went missing for almost a month before it was reported, how her remains were found six months later just blocks from her home, how her mother Casey lied to authorities and seemed to revel in the attention as the prime suspect, the sordid facts revealed during the trial and the verdict so few seem able to accept. Found not guilty of the murder of her daughter, Casey became the most hated woman in the US. But we still don’t know much about who Casey really is.

l My Naked Secret, Discovery TLC, 22.50

Follows individuals hiding an embarrassing secret about their body. With the aid of a therapist, they reveal their painful issue to loved ones, but can they come to terms with their body anxieties? We meet Wendy, who is disgusted by her over-hanging stomach and sagging breasts; Colette, who has a vascular malformation birthmark on her face; Sharon, who has extreme facial hair and Kelly, who has enormous breasts.

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CRG shares rocket by 200%

Much beleaguered and controversial miner, Central Rand Gold (CRG), said it had come to an agreement with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to set aside a decision to cancel the company’s mining right.

12 December 2011 | CHRISTY FILEN

Much beleaguered and controversial miner, Central Rand Gold (CRG), said it had come to an agreement with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to set aside a decision to cancel the company’s mining right.

The company’s share price rocketed upwards of 200% yesterday on the news.

DMR spokesman, Zingaphi Jakuja, said there was “no formal settlement” and that “DMR lawyers and CRG lawyers are speaking and we cannot at this stage reveal further details”.

The final decision ratifying the agreement reached between the DMR and CRG is to be made on December 22 in the High Court by way of an unopposed consent order, CRG said.

CRG said it would continue to discuss its social and labour development plans with the DMR in order to agree on a plan that is more appropriate for CRG’s revised mining plans.

Patrick Malaza, CFO of CRG, said its revised mine plan makes provision for a much smaller scale mine and expects production to increase from 1 500oz per month to approximately 6 000 to 7 000oz per month by 2013.

The operations are currently producing around 1 000oz per month Malaza said.

The original mining right application assumed more than 50 000oz per month.

The DMR cancelled CRG’s mining right in September citing non-compliance with its social and labour plan (SLP), mining work programme and environmental management programme.

This was subsequently suspended in October pending the finalisation of review proceedings allowing it to resume mining operations.

CRG committed to expenditure of R32,9 million in the first two years of its SLP but only spent R18,8 million citing lower staff numbers and unavailability of suitable land.

The reduction it said was due to a change in mining plan concomitant with acid mine water drainage issues.

Malaza said: “Our reason for not fully complying with our SLP programme was because we were forced into a corner due to unrealised mine production. Our original plan foresaw production of 4,2moz over five to six years but this has not been the case as most of our resources are under water.”

Godfrey Makunene, a director of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE), said the potential setting aside of the cancellation of Central Rand Gold’s (CRG) mining right would be a bad decision.

He said “the interest of management is to misuse investors’ money for their own benefit” and that “people have lost confidence from a community point of view”.

“The company has failed to honour their commitments and they come up with all sorts of plans that are unproductive,” Makunene said.

CRG’s dotted history includes reports of excessive expenditure, bearish production forecasts and associations with renowned sushi convicted fraudster Kenny Kunene.

An ongoing dispute with its BEE shareholder (Puno Gold Investments) and local community dissent are also part of the controversy surrounding the company.

The miner said last month that there was still no resolution to its dispute with Puno Gold and that it had filed court papers.

The dispute relates to funding provisions in terms of a shareholder agreement.

The filing seeks to discharge an interdict that prohibits CRG from calling on an option to acquire Puno’s entire shareholding. Alternatively, CRG requested permission to proceed with arbitration.

If the application is unopposed, the hearing is expected to commence today.

“We are waiting for confirmation but think they (Puno) have responded, in which case it won’t take place now but only in January or February next year,” Malaza said.

– christyf@moneyweb.co.za

Booze sales trickling along this festive season

December 10 2011 at 02:19pm

By Sihle Mlambo

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Alcohol retailers in Durban are experiencing mixed fortunes this festive season as the consumption of expensive liquor dwindles in some areas.

“Our high-end expensive items are not selling as well as they did last year, and our expensive whiskeys, Champagnes and wines are moving slowly, but, if you look at the rand value, we are doing far better than we were doing last year,” said Mervyn Govender, Liberty Liquors on Argyle manager.

“People are buying less expensive alcohol, but they are certainly spending on alcohol.

“Gift packs are flying off the shelves, but I think people just buy it for themselves.”

Liberty Liquors has also extended its working hours. It will now be open at 8.30am and close at 6pm for the remainder of the holidays.

The most popular items, according to Govender, are Bell’s whisky, JC Le Roux sparkling wine, Smirnoff vodka, Skyy vodka, Hunters Dry, Savanna and Castle Lite beer.

Meanwhile, at Ultra Liquors in the Tollgate area, whisky seems to be back on the agenda of alcohol consumers this December and stockists say it has been flying off the shelves since the beginning of the summer months.

“We have entered into the silly season now. People want to spoil themselves, and premium and gift-packaged drinks are extremely popular,” said an employee.

He expects people to flood into the liquor store from December 15.

“Right now our fastest seller is Chivas Regal whisky. It comes in a gift set with two free glasses in the package,” he says.

Other whisky selling well is the Johnnie Walker range, with the reasonably priced Red and Black labels selling for R134.99 and R229.99 respectively, and the Blue Label selling steadily at R1 399.

Champagne consumption, which had soared since Kenny Kunene’s Champagne-bathing exploits on national TV, is selling surprisingly slowly,.

“Champagne is not really selling fast, but when they do buy, it is usually Moët & Chandon or Veuve Cliquot, which sell at R399,” he said.

And at Makro in Rossburgh, good old Smirnoff 1818 is still a winner.

Other vodkas selling well there are Skyy vodka (at R149) and Gray Goose (at R259), but their biggest seller is still Smirnoff, which people buy all year round, said a salesman.

He said people were already buying alcohol in quantity, but could not say which was selling more, premium or low-end alcohol. - Independent on Saturday

Look at my viewing figures, says Zola 7

Popular musician & TV show host Zola performs in Cape Town. File photo.
Image by: MARK WESSELS.

Controversial kwaito star Bonginkosi "Zola 7" Dlamini has laughed off claims that e.tv has dropped him.

He has told his detractors to look at his viewership figures to see why 2011 has "been a great year" for him.

Dlamini's 13-part reality TV show, Rolling with Zola, ends on December 18, a day after Kenny Kunene's reality show, So What, is flighted for the last time on the same channel.

Dlamini's show boasts impressive figures when compared with Kunene's, and Hlelo and Ntando Masina's Blame It On Fame. According to the SA Advertising Research Foundation, Rolling with Zola attracted more than 1.7million viewers last month - it hit 2 019 333 at the beginning of the month - whereasSo What was watched by 1.4million viewers and Blame It On Fame attracted 1.1million. The latter ended on November 28.

"The response from the public was absolutely amazing," Dlamini said yesterday.

"I have honoured the contract, so did the channel. So I think it's so sad when people who don't understand TV say the show has been canned."

He said he might do more work with the channel next year, but not on the same show.

In September, e.tv's group head of content, Monde Twala, launched the three shows amid much fanfare, saying: "We're keeping up with the trends and extending our genres to reality TV shows that celebrate our own celebrities."

Yesterday, he said the channel was scouring the local entertainment scene for the next celebrity to fill Zola's spot.

He said each season a new celebrity would head the Rolling With series.

The new celebrity, "who has an interesting life story to share", will be announced in the first quarter of next year.

The channel is in the planning phase with the Masina twins for a second season of their show.

"South Africa fell in love with the twins in the first season and the target market wants more," he said. "The channel is pleased with the show and its appeal in showcasing real up-and-coming celebrity lives."

Kenny’s wife flips

November 29 2011 at 12:38pm

Comment on this story

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Zoopy

SUSHI king Kenny Kunene’s marriage is allegedly on the rocks - because of his reported infidelity.

Kunene and wife Mmathato are said to have separated and are heading for divorce after she accused him of indulging his insatiable appetite for sex with other women, reports the Sowetan.

The final straw was when Kunene had an affair with YFM’s Edith Rose, which ended badly.

Kunene, a mining millionaire, is notorious for eating sushi off the bodies of semi-naked models. - Daily Voice