I usually do not take to heart what plumbers like Malala have to say but I think his column in today's The Times newspaper resonates with many...
The consequences of cronyism Nothing enrages a mob like tales of looting the state Feb 27, 2011 10:58 PM | By Justice Malala ________________________________ Justice Malala: Here is a name that the Gupta family and President Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane, should keep in mind - it's Ahmed Ezz. Ezz is an Egyptian business tycoon and a close ally of ousted leader Hosni Mubarak and his son, Gamal. ________________________________ Why should they keep that name in mind? Perceptions are rising in South Africa and among certain sections of the ANC that the Guptas wield massive, undue influence over the president and are using their closeness to him to amass enormous wealth for themselves and the young Zuma. The seriousness of these perceptions was illustrated when trade union federation Cosatu announced last week that it will commission an investigation into allegations that Zuma's family and the Guptas are plundering our economy. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that the issue has made it onto the agenda of the national working committee of the ANC. Are these allegations about the president, his son Duduzane and the Guptas true? I have my views about some of their dealings. For example, the ArcelorMittal black economic empowerment deal that is set to enrich the young Zuma, the Guptas and some of Zuma's supporters and cronies, is even more sickening than the Telkom deal that enriched some cronies of former president Thabo Mbeki. The big issue for the Guptas and the Zumas is that the perception is there, and it is growing. Here is a piece from the New York Times, which illustrates why the Guptas, and Zuma senior and Zuma junior, should not forget the name of Ahmed Ezz. The piece was published on February 6: "As Egyptians turned their anger on symbols of the state late last month, torching police stations along with the headquarters of President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party, they reserved a special hatred for a garish building with black tinted windows in an upscale neighbourhood, setting fire to it three times. "It belongs to a steel tycoon and ruling party insider named Ahmed Ezz, a close friend and confidant of Mr Mubarak's son, Gamal. For many years, Mr Ezz has represented the intersection of money, politics and power, controlling two-thirds of the steel market, leading the budget committee as a member of parliament, and serving as an officer and loyal lieutenant in the governing party. "Public resentment at the wealth acquired by the politically powerful helped propel the uprising already reshaping the contours of power along the Nile. "Mr Ezz's world has come undone. He is treated as a liability by an old guard, intent on saving itself from fed-up and furious protesters. He is under investigation on suspicion of corruption. His assets have been frozen and his right to travel taken away. He has denied accusations of corruption in the past, and his location was not known [on] Sunday. Now his name is part of the derisive chants in Tahrir Square, a symbol of all that was wrong with Mr Mubarak's government. "'Ahmed Ezz sucks the blood of the people', said Osama Mohamed Afifi, a student who joined the protesters in the square on Sunday. 'He is the only man who can sell steel in all of Egypt, and he sells it for much more than if we could buy steel from someone else, like China'. "Hosni Mubarak's Egypt has long functioned as a state in which wealth bought political power and political power bought great wealth. While hard facts are difficult to come by, Egyptians watching the rise of a moneyed class widely believe that self-dealing, crony capitalism and corruption are endemic, represented in the public eye by a group of rich businessmen aligned with Gamal Mubarak, the president's son, as well as key government ministers and governing party members." This piece, if one changed some of the names, could have been written about South Africa today. Many of the issues raised are the same as those South Africans are speaking about when they refer to Zuma, his son and the Guptas. Pour into this brew the Public Protector's findings last week that the national police commissioner acted improperly in handing a R500-million tender to a friend of the president, and one is faced with a country begging to be regarded as a failed state. It took 30 years for Mubarak's looting of the state - aided by the likes of Ahmed Ezz - to be brought to a violent halt in Egypt. In Libya, it is not just the Gaddafi family that is under pressure. Cronies of his regime are seeking safe havens too. The Guptas and the Zumas might want to take a moment to reflect on the fate of these once-powerful families to the north of us. The world is smaller now. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matela Mthwalo Sent: 28 February 2011 11:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [YCLSA Discussion] Hats off to Julius' Bravery Cde, I believe that Julius probably raised his concerns at ANC NEC, but he is right in raising them in ANC rallies. That is a platform as well. If ANC manifesto contains issues like corruption, Julius is right to raise his concern during the launch of the very same manifesto. Corruption would kill this beautiful land. Matela On Mon, Feb 28, 2011 at 11:02 AM, Ntokozo Lwandle <[email protected]> wrote: Cde I also do commend him but it still worries me if such issues are not raised at proper platforms because it really may not assist the situation. On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:46:14 +0200 Matela Mthwalo <[email protected]> wrote <div style="padding-left: 10px; border-left: solid 2px #0000FF;"><div><br />Cdes,</div> <div> </div> <div>I dont always agree with Julius Malema.But his statement at Rustenburg should be commented for bravery. It is true that at times he irritate many of us. but this time he must be commented for showing the bravery that is rare in young people. Julius rose above party factionalism to defend not only the ANC but the whole country. And I take my communist hat off to salute this young son of the soil. Its not always that people raise like he did in Rustenburg when they are facing challenges. </div> <div> </div> <div>This time Julius is right..no to looting of national assets by friends and pals.</div> <div> </div> <div>Regards,</div> <div> </div> <div>Matela</div> <p></p> -- <br /> You are subscribed. This footer can help you.<br /> Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message.<br /> You can visit the group WEB SITE at <a target="_blank" href="http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum";>http://groups.goog le.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum</a> for different delivery options, pages, files and membership.<br /> To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] <br /></div> Ntoks Cell: 0849598224 "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" ____________________________________________________________ South Africas premier free email service - www.webmail.co.za <http://www.webmail.co.za/> For super low premiums, click here http://www.dialdirect.co.za/?vdn=15741 -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -- Regards, Matela Mthwalo -- You are subscribed. 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