The EFF has made enemy number one out of businessman Johann Rupert. The man behind Remgro was the target of another EFF protest last week when the red berets descended on his Stellenbosch wine farms and Remgro’s head offices to hand over a memorandum of demands that must be met within 14 days.
Rupert has for a long time been the face of “white monopoly capital” and a favourite target of the EFF, who have called him the leader of a group of oligarchs based in Stellenbosch, which have “total influence” over the economy.
But some more education on what exactly Johan Rupert has power over and can influence is needed by the EFF, writes Rob Rose.
“Rupert, in other words, is to the EFF what Bill Gates is to vaccine conspiracists the world over: the bogeyman responsible for all evil — from rising food prices to the Gucci store refusing to take VBS-branded credit cards.”
Rose lists seven fallacies the EFF has charged against Rupert and sets the record straight in the process.
Meanwhile, Durban and other parts of KwaZulu-Natal are being washed away by brutal heavy rainfall that has killed over 300 people and threatens to derail the economy of one of Africa’s most important port cities.
What has become increasingly clear is the mismanagement of crucial infrastructure and the failure to plan for changing weather patterns brought on by climate change, writes Prof Tshilidzi Marwala.
“Over the last few months, southern Africa has had to weather extreme weather conditions, including cyclones, tropical storms and flooding. It is estimated that just this year alone and based on early estimates from Durban, almost 300 people have died in the region. As an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released this week appropriately states, “It’s do or die”.”
Here’s a round-up of opinions, editorials, and in-depth articles we’re reading:
Sorry Durban, the ANC has failed you again (and again) – Qaanitah Hunter, News24 (for subscribers)
Durban’s New Orleans moment makes crisis planning vital – Gracelin Baskaran, Business Day
Devastated KZN communities search for family members swept away by floodwaters – Shaun Smillie, Daily Maverick
The big cost of the Absa chaos – Editorial, Financial Mail
Has the national question become whether SA is a failed state, or if it is failing? – Pieter du Toit, News24 (for subscribers)
Russia-Ukraine crisis highlights Africa’s need to diversify its wheat sources – Mandira Bagwandeen and Noncedo Vutula, The Conversation
Zweli Mkhize’s slap on the wrist telling – Brain Sokutu, The Citizen (for subscribers)
