Former president Jacob Zuma has shown great disdain for South Africa’s courts in the past, having had to abide by many court orders he didn’t want to and having lost many appeals and other cases. But that doesn’t mean he won’t stop using the very same justice system to try to evade any sort of accountability for his actions, writes Karyn Maughan (for subscribers).
Explaining Maughan’s column here would not do it justice for she interictally details how Zuma uses the very same court system he holds so much contempt for to delay actions against him and to try and win back his personal freedom.
It’s well worth the time to read.
Yesterday, we brought you the views of former Bain & Company SA partner, Athol Williams who has placed immense pressure on the Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) organisation, who readmitted Bain & Co as a member in April 2021 after it first suspended the US-based consultancy in September 2018.
Bain & Co was heavily implicated in part one of the State Capture report for its role in dealings with former president Jacob Zuma and former SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane.
The pressure finally tolled yesterday, when Bain abruptly resigned its membership of BLSA, citing not wanting to distract from the good work BLSA does on behalf of the South African business community.
Business Day notes that Bain didn’t have any other choice but to resign from BLSA and remarked that there was no particular reason that Bain needed to be a member of BLSA.
“BLSA is simply an elite club of businesses who apply or are invited to join, and are willing to pay the steep fees. It is not in any way a representative business organisation, as is Business Unity SA. It does much lobbying and good work on business’ behalf, but there is no particular reason it needs Bain — or Bain needs it.”
Similarly, commentator Justice Malala writes (for subscribers) that Bain had to fall on its sword and that BLSA saved itself some embarrassment now that Bain has voluntarily left after the firm was so publicly defended by BLSA.
“…BLSA CEO Busisiwe Mavuso — who has consistently and admirably stood up for accountability in the past — says Bain is not “inherently corrupt”. How does she know? Until the processes currently under way are completed, the prudent thing was surely to keep Bain suspended. Why did BLSA rush to lift Bain’s suspension before all processes were concluded, so opening itself to attack and ridicule?”
Malala contends that BLSA has been one of the strongest allies in the fight against State Capture and the role of business in SA, which has oftentimes unfairly come under fire for the state of the country.
Here’s hoping that with Bain’s departure, BLSA can once again be that shining beacon for business leadership and excellence in South Africa, led admirably by its CEO, Busi Mavuso.
Here’s a roundup of interesting opinions, analyses, and editorials:
Jabulani Sikhakhane | Bain had bigger problems than a few bad apples – Fin24 (for subscribers)
Let’s be brutally honest – the ANC of yesteryear with its ethical and principled leaders is no more – Daily Maverick
We have a critical responsibility to put South Africa back on a firm ethical footing – Daily Maverick
Melanie Verwoerd | Resurrect Parliament immediately – News24 (for subscribers)
CHRIS GILMOUR: From ski resorts to Cape Town, global tourism needs to adopt a bit of pragmatism – Business Day (for subscribers)
Leaders must stop blaming colonisation for their failures – The Citizen (for subscribers)
What would a reform agenda for South Africa look like? – Daily Friend
Image: GCIS
