Sunset Beach 2008
A controversial BBC documentary portraying South Africa as being on a downward spiral is an accurate portrayal of the country and the ANC is the main destabilising factor, leading intellectual Moeletsi Mbeki has said. Mbeki, brother of President Thabo Mbeki, told the Cape Argus that South Africans had to face the fact the rest of the world had reason to be "very concerned" about the direction in which the country was moving.
Mbeki also criticised new ANC president Jacob Zuma for "bad-mouthing" his own country's political and justice system in a foreign country. Zuma claimed in court papers in Mauritius this week that fraud charges against him were part of a political move against him. Moeletsi Mbeki, who is deputy chairperson of the SA Institute of International Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, said:
"Here we have the president of the ANC, the possible future president of the country, claiming that the 16 charges of fraud against him are part of a political campaign to keep him out of office. There are no such things as political trials in this country, but he goes and says so in a foreign country, creating a bad impression of his own country's justice system. The world looks at this country, they hear things like that, they see that the ruling party's president is going to appear in court on 16 charges of fraud and what should they think?"
Independent Online | SA is going down, says Mbeki's brother
Sunset Beach 2008
The two centres of power are straining President Thabo Mbeki's cabinet, with Trevor Manuel, the finance minister, accusing his colleagues of buying parliamentary support, while Charles Nqakula, the safety and security minister, is accused of defying his boss by appeasing the ANC.
At the ANC parliamentary caucus this week, Manuel turned on his cabinet colleagues, accusing them of using patronage to subdue ANC members from calling them to account.
The day after his budget speech on Wednesday, in which he did a balancing act by appeasing his ANC bosses while getting the nod from the opposition parties, Manuel addressed the party caucus. An MP at the caucus meeting said: "Manuel said the government coffers have a surplus because departments are failing to spend. He said ANC resolutions had not been implemented because ministers were using patronage to get the support of members. Because of these relationships, members were not able to hold ministers to account."
Independent Online | Accusations fly in stressed Mbeki cabinet
Sunset Beach 2008
South Africa’s dirty cops are keeping their jobs despite being caught breaking the law. And the shocking excuse given by their bosses for this situation is the chronic shortage of policemen. As the country reels under one of the highest crime rates in the world, these guilty cops continue to patrol the streets because there is nobody to fill their boots.
According to police watchdog, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD), criminal activity by policemen increased by 8% last year. It has also emerged that more than 1000 policemen were arrested and charged during a special investigation into social grant fraud totalling R5.1-million.
While many of them have pleaded guilty and paid R1000 admission of guilt fines, they are still at work pending internal disciplinary procedures.
The Times | Police shortage given as reason for keeping on crooked cops
No More Mandelas Part 1
No More Mandelas Part 2
Jamie's Story
Note: I wasn't aware, before watching it, that the third item linked to here is another insert from the same Carte Blanche magazine programme. Should you view it, remember that these extremely wealthy people were extraordinarily fortunate — as bizarre as that might sound.
Around 50 people are murdered daily, a rate seven times higher than that of the United States.
This family, enjoying an outward opulence decidedly at odds with the norm, lived. Their story is, in a South African context, unremarkable but for Jamie's presence of mind under difficult circumstances. Most people robbed — usually in more mundane settings, do not report it unless they wish to claim insurance. Nor do they speak about it.
Hey! It's life and life only...
