While you were asleep

Why is Lindiwe Zulu so defiant in her proposal for a National Social Security Fund? Why now, so shortly after the July uprising in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng? Why did Treasury and the Presidency not hasten to throw cold water on this burning log? Why, why, why… ? Zulu’s Department of Social Development opened a can of worms last week …

While you were asleep: Why is a minister scratching where it’s not itching? Read More »

While South Africa is still coming to grips and recovering from the losses caused by the violent unrests that hit KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng last month, the country is on high alert to stave off any disruptions following inflammatory messages on social media calling for violence and a national shutdown. Reasons for the planned shutdown include claims of untested vaccines, …

While you were asleep: Some bright spots as SA prepares for a potential new wave of riots Read More »

Just when we thought the week plagued with hack attacks couldn’t get any worse, hackers stole nearly $100m in a crypto heist in Japan. This week hackers stole the personal data, including first and last names, birth dates, Social Security numbers and driver’s license information of more than 40 million current and prospective T-Mobile customers. According to the …

While you were asleep: Elon Musk steals show in week plagued with hack attacks Read More »

As the debate rages over vaccine hesitancy and a controversial video about the safety of the vaccine by Dr Susan Vosloo, South Africa’s first female heart surgeon, death statistics show that 80% of South Africans may have had Covid. Meanwhile, a report from the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority shows that no one in South Africa has died from getting a Covid-19 …

While you were asleep: Rand hurts, while vaccine debate rages on Read More »

As we brace for a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections to hit South Africa by early December, another storm is raging –  Johnson & Johnson’s is not only profiteering from the pandemic but is doing so at our expense. The multinational pharmaceutical giant stands accused of using colonial tactics by exporting locally-produced Covid-19 vaccines to Europe while Africa is in need.  …

While you were asleep: Vaccine apartheid storm raging Read More »

The markets are starting to feel the heat from the Afghanistan turmoil, with the rand breaching the critical R14.90-level against the US dollar as risk-off sentiment entered the market overnight on the political tension, and as the Delta strain of the Covid-19 virus continues to grab hold of the market, writes TreasuryONE. Where the US markets saw …

While you were asleep: Markets feel heat, but Afghanistan not the biggest threat Read More »

Twenty years, four US presidents and trillions of dollars later, the US war in Afghanistan is exactly where it started, with the Taliban in control of the country. As the Afghan president fled and the blame game started,  President Joe Biden has rushed 5,000 troops to Kabul to secure the airport and help evacuate American diplomats. With Biden and his administration grappling to …

While you were asleep: Costly wars: Is it worth it? Read More »

We were blindsided by the Guptas and missed the red flags on the family’s influence over appointments in government and state-owned entities. And we allowed the State Security Agency to serve political and factional interests, leading to the recent unrest that claimed 300 lives and caused a R50bn loss to the economy. President Cyril Ramaphosa conceded to all these …

While you were asleep: Give us real reassurance Mr President Read More »

Layers and layers of shadow systems and networks were laid bare in Cyril Ramaphosa’s first day of testimony as president of the country at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, giving us more insight into who really makes the decisions and how powerful a hand Deputy President David Mabuza has in how the state is shaped, …

While you were asleep: A game of shifting the balance of power Read More »

It’s true. You can’t keep a good woman down. Not this month, not any other month! To highlight the plight of inadequate protection of the law to whistle-blowers in South Africa, prominent women blowing the lid off among others SAA, Trillian and Imperial Group are taking a stand with a symbolic demonstration at the Zondo Commission when …

While you were asleep: Women’s Month – what’s the point? Read More »