In the opinion pages today, Justice Malala takes a look at the rumours that ANC loyalists are planning to launch a new ANC-splinter party and Rob Rose writes about the exorbitant new municipality rates implemented by the city of Joburg.
JUSTICE MALALA | It’s make or break away as ‘ANC loyalists’ get a backbone – Times LIVE (for subscribers)
Malala writes about recent murmurs from former ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa about yet another potential breakaway grouping from the ANC – who seek to form an alternative political party rooted in liberation politics and steadfast in upholding clean governance.
The political commentator presents the more realistic theory that any breakaway talk is mere fodder from those who are trying to coerce the party into giving them leadership positions on the national executive committee when the party heads to its elective conference in December.
But Malala says all South Africans should cheer on a political party formed from the ANC as it would significantly weaken the governing party, no matter what faction this new party represents. Read more here.
ROB ROSE: Greedy municipalities hike rates to hide incompetence – Financial Mail (for subscribers)
Financial Mail editor Rob Rose writes about recent municipality rate increases levelled against residents of the city of Johannesburg.
Rose lines his piece with comments from concerned organisations who say the municipality’s justification for the rate hikes is the enforcement and implementation of changes to bylaws.
But the organisations say the bylaw argument has been made to hide the fact that the municipality wants to extract as much money as possible from ratepayers as it is the only viable business model for the city. Read more here.
Here’s what else we’re reading today:
EDITORIAL: Marikana is part of the malaise poisoning our democracy’s soul – Business Day (for subscribers)
EDITORIAL | Ramaphosa’s broken Marikana promises will continue to haunt his career – Times LIVE (for subscribers)
ANALYSIS | Worker insurgency and the future of mining: Lessons from Marikana – News24
Ralph Mathekga | KwaZulu-Natal ANC’s support for Zuma could be a costly exercise – News24 (for subscribers)
Mpumelelo Mkhabela | Saftu’s national shutdown calls reveal a union fresh out of ideas – News24 (for subscribers)
ANC’s collapse as South Africa’s majority party is foretold in new poll – Daily Maverick
South Africa continues to bleed – The Citizen (for subscribers)
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
