Luck is running out for seemingly untouchable Ace Magashule – not only has the suspended ANC secretary-general been denied leave to appeal his May suspension from the ruling party after he refused to step aside from his position because of fraud and corruption charges linked to R255m asbestos tender in the Free State while he was premier, but it seems his taps are running dry. The Sunday Times reported students he sponsored to study in Istanbul have been kicked out of their dorm accommodation because he owes the Bogazici Student Dormitories R13m.
Magashule, known as ‘not one to accept defeat’, is likely to try to appeal this latest decision at the Supreme Court of Appeal. But this same Magashule, who earlier this year encouraged convicted president Jacob Zuma, now on medical parole, in his defiance of a Constitutional Court order that he must appear before the state capture commission, should by now realise that no one is above the law.
Meanwhile, another seemingly untouchable had to scramble to block spyware deposited in its iMessage service that doesn’t require users to click on a link or a file. Researchers found that the flaw Israel-based NSO Group used to “exploit and infect” the latest Apple devices affects all the technology giant’s operating systems. And this before Apple’s big annual product reveal.
Now, what for the holier-than-thou Apple users who always use “it’s safe”, “Apple doesn’t get viruses” to justify their big-ticket gadgets?
Here’s a roundup of the world’s top and most interesting headlines:
SA Business
BMW, JPMorgan and other major companies appeal to UK government to lift travel restrictions on South Africa – Bloomberg
Looted, destroyed big businesses ‘desperate for cash’ as they wait for Sasria payments – ICA – Fin24
Vodacom goes solar – TechCentral
Global Business
South Korea fines Google for abusing smartphone dominance – Bloomberg
Japan’s richest person builds $38bn automation fortune – Bloomberg
Why takeovers, rather than arms, may be the talk of UK defence fair – The Guardian
Markets
Asian markets struggle for traction ahead of US inflation data – AFP
Commodities prices are surging again – Bloomberg
Oil extends gains as US Gulf coast braces for latest tropical storm – Investing.com
Opinion/In-depth
General Feroz Khan’s business interests and unlawful secret service account sign-offs are indeed a matter of grave public concern – Daily Maverick
The boss of a South African company that employs 20,000 people gives his opinion on mandatory vaccinations – BusinessTech
How large corporations are pushing harmful food products to new markets – The Conversation
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